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VBIV.  OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 


I    NEVER,  A  FRESHMAN   ASLEEP  AT  THE    SWITCH!  "  —  Page  23. 


JEAN    CABOT    AT 
ASHTON 


BY 


GERTRUDE  FISHER  SCOTT 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  ARTHUR  O.  SCOTT 


BOSTON 
LOTHROP,   LEE   £r   SHEPARD  CO. 


Published,  August,  1912 


COPYRIGHT,  1912,  BY  LOTHROP,  LEE  &  SHEPARD  Co. 

All  rights  reserved 

JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 


florwoofc  press 

BERWICK  &  SMITH  CO. 

NORWOOD  MASS. 
U.  S.  A. 


Contents 

CHAPTXB  PACK 

I.    THE  DAY  BEFORE i 

II.  How  IT  LOOKED  ON  WEDNESDAY  ....    14 

III.  FIRST  IMPRESSIONS 31 

IV.  THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION 49 

V.    INITIATION 78 

VI.    THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME 102 

VII.  THE  THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS  ....  126 

VIII.    THE  CORAL  BEADS 154 

IX.    THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY 167 

X.    THE  COSTUME  PARTY 189 

XI.    MIDYEAR'S 206 

XII.  BEFORE  THE  FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE  GAME  224 

XIII.  THE  GAME 246 

XIV.  THE  BANQUET 261 

XV.    MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT 280 

XVI.    PRIZE- SPEAKING 298 

XVII.    THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT 321 

XVIII.    CLASS  DAY 339 


21326S2 


Illustrations 

"  Well,  I  never,  a  freshman,  asleep  at  the 

switch!"  (Page  23) Frontispiece 

FACING    FACE 

"  Why,  what  are  you  doing  here  ?    We've  been  look- 
ing for  you  all  over  college " 90 

"  I  don't  know  yet,  Jean,  but  a  man  can  do  anything 
if  he's  educated " IS2 

"  Somebody  open  the  south  window,  quick !  "     .     .  178 

With  a  quick  movement  she  threw  it  over  the  shoul- 
der of  her  antagonist 258 

Natalie  went  after  the  last  two  games  in  whirlwind 
fashion  328 


Jean  Cabot  at  Ashton 

CHAPTER  I 

THE  DAY   BEFORE 

''T^  "TOW,  Tom  dear,  don't  you  do  am 
^W]  other  single  thing  for  me;  I'm 
sure  I  shall  be  all  right,  and 
Cousin  Anna  will  meet  me  at  the  train  in 
Boston  and  then  everything  will  be  smooth 
sailing.  You'll  miss  your  train  if  you  wait 
another  moment  and  blame  me  for  it  ever 
after,  so  good-by;  I'll  write  you  as  soon  as 
I'm  comfortably  settled  with  Elizabeth 
Frances  Fairfax,  in  45  Merton  Hall." 

"  Well,  so  long,  little  sister ;  let  me  know 
if  there's  anything  I  can  do  for  you  and  we'll 
spend  Thanksgiving  together  surely  at  Aunt 
Sarah's,  and  may  be,  if  you're  very  good, 
I'll  come  up  and  take  you  to  the  Harvard- 
Yale  the  week  before.  You  wouldn't  mind 
i 


2         JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

going  with  that  good-looking  room-mate  of 
mine  if  I  could  persuade  Connie  Huntington 
to  accompany  me,  would  you?  It's  only  a 
few  hours'  run  up  to  Boston,  but  here  are  some 
chocolates  and  magazines  in  case  you  tire  of 
the  scenery.  Be  game,  little  girl,  and  above 
every  thing  else,  make  good." 

With  these  words  Thomas  Cabot  swung 
off  the  train  just  in  time  to  catch  a  near-by 
accommodation  train  to  convey  him  to  Little- 
ton Center,  where  he  was  to  join  a  merry 
house-party  of  young  people.  Jean  quietly 
arose  from  her  seat  and  watched  from  the 
car  window  until  her  brother  had  entirely 
disappeared  from  view,  and  then  somewhat 
reluctantly  turned  and  resumed  her  former 
seat. 

Brother  and  sister  had  come  from  Los 
Angeles  to  New  York  together,  he  to  enter 
upon  his  senior  year  at  Yale  and  she  to  be- 
come a  freshman  at  Ashton  College.  Jean 
was  the  only  daughter  and  youngest  child  of 
a  family  of  six.  The  four  older  brothers 
had  been  educated  in  the  West  and  were  de- 
termined that  the  two  youngest  children 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  3 

should  see  something  of  the  life  and  culture 
of  the  East.  Mrs.  Cabot  had  died  when 
Jean  was  six,  and  although  she  had  had  gov- 
ernesses and  accommodating  aunts  and 
cousins  galore  to  consider  her  welfare,  still 
most  of  her  life  had  been  spent  in  the  com- 
pany of  her  father  and  brothers,  and  when 
they  decided  that  she  should  go  East  to  Ash- 
ton,  a  small  college  of  about  five  hundred 
strong,  within  twenty-five  miles  of  Boston, 
she  had  never  for  one  moment  doubted  the 
wisdom  of  their  choice,  and  acquiesced  as 
willingly  as  though  Brother  Will  had  said, 
"  Jean,  go  get  your  racket  for  a  set  of  ten- 
nis." 

From  Los  Angeles  to  New  York,  Tom  and 
she  had  kept  up  a  continuous  conversation  on 
the  "  do's  and  don'ts  "  of  college  life,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  journey  Jean  felt  that  she  had 
a  great  advantage  over  the  other  green  fresh- 
men, for  she  had  been  too  carefully  coached  by 
her  brother  to  make  any  serious  errors.  Then, 
too,  Cousin  Anna  Maitlandt,  a  graduate  of 
Ashton  1911,  was  to  meet  her  at  Boston  and 
take  her  out  to  college  to  see  that  she  made 


4         JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

a  good  beginning  amid  the  strange  new  sur- 
roundings. 

Now  Tom  was  gone,  and  for  the  first 
time  that  she  could  remember,  Jean  was 
alone,  face  to  face  with  the  first  big  thing  in 
her  life.  She  tried  to  read,  but  thoughts  of 
home  would  persist  in  rushing  in  upon  her, 
and  between  the  lines  danced  little  pictures  of 
life  away  out  in  California.  She  wondered 
why  she  had  come  to  college.  Was  it  simply 
to  please  her  father  and  brothers  or  did  she 
mean  to  make  a  success  of  it  for  her  own 
sake?  She  was  fond  of  books  and  of  study, 
but  fond  of  so  many  other  things  as  well. 
What  would  there  be  in  college  to  take  the 
place  of  her  horseback  rides  over  the  ranch 
with  the  boys,  her  evenings  with  her  father 
in  his  den,  her  tennis,  her  weeks  in  camp  in 
the  mountains,  her  whole  free  outdoor  life? 
She  knew  little  of  girls  and  cared  less,  for 
up  to  this  time  they  had  played  a  small  part 
in  her  life.  To  be  sure,  she  had  known  them 
at  St.  Margaret's,  her  fitting  school,  but  she 
had  spent  as  little  time  as  possible  there  in 
order  to  be  at  the  call  of  the  boys  when  they 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  '5 

needed  her,  and  you  may  be  sure  some  one 
of  the  five  needed  her  most  of  the  time.  She 
was  their  true  confidante  and  they  told  her 
their  little  business  worries  and  successes, 
their  love  affairs,  and  their  hopes  and  am- 
bitions, for  each  felt  that  his  secret  was  safe 
with  her.  In  spite  of  her  tender  years  and 
lack  of  real  experience  she  seemed  to  be  able 
to  advise  where  many  an  older  person  would 
have  failed.  And  now  she  was  leaving  them 
all  behind  and  was  wondering  what  they 
could  do  without  her.  The  more  she  thought, 
the  more  the  longing  came  over  her  to  give 
it  all  up  and  go  back  to  those  she  loved  best. 

Before  she  realized  it  two  great  tears  were 
rolling  down  her  cheeks  and  as  she  was 
about  to  wipe  them  away  a  tall,  handsome 
girl  stood  before  her,  smiling  down  at  her. 
"Isn't  this  Jean  Cabot?"  she  asked,  giving 
her  hand  a  cordial  shake.  "  May  I  sit  down 
here  and  talk  a  little?  You're  going  to 
Ashton  College,  aren't  you?  So  am  I.  My 
name  is  Allison,  Marguerite  Allison,  1914. 
Of  course  you're  wondering  how  I  knew  it 
was  you.  Well,  I  was  sitting  in  the  last 


6         JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

chair  of  this  car  and  saw  your  brother  as  he 
bade  you  good-by.  I  met  Tom  last  year  at 
the  Yale  Prom  and  I  am  sure  he  is  going 
now  to  a  house-party  at  Littleton  Center. 
I've  just  come  from  there  and  know  all  about 
it  I  was  terribly  disappointed  not  to  stay 
over  the  week-end,  but  I'm  on  the  House  Com- 
mittee and  just  have  to  be  back  to-morrow. 
You  know  Student  Government  just  makes 
you  do  things.  Belle  Thurston,  an  old 
Ashton  girl,  who  is  giving  the  house-party, 
told  me  she  expected  Tom  this  evening,  but 
he  was  stopping  off  in  New  York  long  enough 
to  get  his  sister  Jean  started  for  her  year  at 
Ashton.  So  that's  how  I  knew  it  was  you. 
But  tell  me,  dear,  where  are  you  going  to 
live?" 

By  this  time  Jean's  tears  had  dried  and 
she  had  regained  her  usual  composure  and 
quite  firmly  replied,  "  Oh,  Miss  Allison,  I'm 
so  glad  to  know  you;  I  was  just  beginning 
to  get  homesick,  but  you've  saved  my  life. 
I'm  to  live  in  Merton,  45,  with  Elizabeth 
Frances  Fairfax.  I  got  my  assignment  just 
the  day  before  we  started." 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  7 

"  Merton ;  why,  that's  my  house.  Isn't  it 
grand  ?  '  Forty-five '  is  fourth  floor  and 
mine  is  27,  second  floor.  As  for  Elizabeth 
Frances  Fairfax,  she's  probably  another 
freshman  from  Massachusetts;  name  sounds 
like  one  of  those  good  old  New  England 
families.  Massachusetts  girls  are  all  right 
in  spite  of  their  strict  old  Puritan  ancestors. 
I'm  from  Cherokee,  Iowa,  but  I  haven't  been 
home  all  summer.  Really  I  haven't  any  home 
to  go  to,  for  my  father  is  interested  in  mines 
and  is  down  in  Mexico  most  of  the  time.  I 
stay  with  my  aunt  when  I'm  in  Cherokee,  but 
this  summer  I've  been  visiting  some  of  the 
college  girls  in  New  York  State  and  ended 
up  at  Littleton  Center.  And  you've  come  all 
the  way  from  Los  Angeles?  I  thought  I'd 
come  some  distance,  but  it's  nothing  in  com- 
parison with  your  trip.  Most  of  the  girls  at 
college  are  Easterners,  but  I'm  sure  you'll  like 
them  after  you  get  used  to  their  ways. 

"  What  studies  are  you  going  to  take  ? 
Can  I  help  you  with  your  program?  Come 
right  into  27  as  soon  as  we  land  and  I'll 
fix  things  up  for  you.  Speaking  of  Massa- 


8         JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

chusetts  girls,  you'll  fall  in  love  with  my 
room-mate,  Natalie  Lawton,  just  the  minute 
you  see  her.  She's  from  Boston;  lived  there 
all  her  short  life,  not  fifteen  minutes'  walk 
from  the  Boston  Public  Library  and  Copley 
Square.  Excuse  me,  of  course  you  don't 
know  anything  about  Boston  yet,  but  you  will 
before  you've  been  a  month  at  Ashton.  Miss 
Emerson,  she's  college  president,  you  know, 
thinks  there's  no  place  on  the  whole  earth 
quite  like  Boston,  and  it's  her  especial  delight 
to  impress  upon  freshmen  the  advantages  of 
being  so  near  to  this  wonderful  city.  The 
first  time  you  hear  her  say,  '  Now,  girls,  re- 
member the  great  advantages  offered  to  you 
by  being  in  such  close  proximity  to  Boston,' 
you  will  think  it  rather  significant,  but  by  the 
time  you've  heard  it  576  times  it  will  begin 
to  grow  a  little  monotonous. 

"Why,  Miss  Cabot,  we're  actually  passing 
through  Hyde  Park,  and  we'll  be  in  the  South 
Station  in  a  few  minutes.  Hasn't  the  time 
gone  quickly?  How  many  trunks  have  you 
and  where  are  your  checks?  Let's  be  getting 
our  things  together.  I  left  my  luggage  up  in 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  9 

the  other  end  of  the  car,  so  I'll  go  up  and  col- 
lect it  and  be  back  in  a  minute." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  Miss  Allison,  but  my 
cousin,  Miss  Anna  Maitlandt,  has  promised 
to  meet  me  at  the  train  and  I  am  sure  she 
will  help  me  with  my  trunks." 

"What!  Anna  Maitlandt,  1911,  your 
cousin!  Why,  she  lived  in  East  Hall  her 
senior  year  when  I  was  a  freshman.  I 
haven't  seen  her  for  perfect  ages,  but  she  was 
my  crush  freshman  year.  How  good  it  will 
seem  to  see  her  again!  And  to  think  she's 
your  cousin!  How  small  the  world  is  after 
all !  Here  we  are  —  follow  me  and  I'll  keep 
my  eye  open  for  Anna." 

The  long  express  train  was  crowded,  but 
the  two  girls  were  quickly  out  upon  the  plat- 
form and  well  up  the  track  before  a  word 
was  said.  Marguerite  was  well  in  the  lead, 
when  all  at  once  Jean  saw  her  drop  her  bags 
and  vigorously  seize  a  rather  petite  girl,  trim 
in  her  immaculate  white  linen  suit.  By  the 
time  their  greetings  were  over,  Jean  had  ar- 
rived on  the  scene  and  found  herself  as  ef- 
fusively greeted. 


io       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  So  this  is  little  Jean !  Well,  I  never 
should  have  known  you.  Why,  you're  as 
big  as  Tom,  and  look  more  like  a  senior  than 
a  green  freshie!  No  hazing  you,  my  lady. 
Oh,  what  a  prize  for  Ashton  Athletic  Asso- 
ciation! What  is  your  specialty,  Jean,  ten- 
nis, basket-ball  or  rowing?  You'll  make  all 
three  without  half  trying. 

"  Now,  where  are  your  trunk  checks  ? 
We'll  send  the  trunks  out  to  Ashton  at  once 
to  have  them  waiting  for  us  when  we  arrive. 
I'm  going  to  take  you  girls  up  town  with  me 
for  dinner  and  a  good  talk,  and  Jean  must 
go  out  home  with  me  for  the  night.  To- 
morrow  will  be  plenty  early  enough  for  her 
to  arrive.  What  say'st  thou,  Peggy  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Nan,  you're  a  perfect  dear  to  in- 
vite me,  but  really  I  can't  accept.  You  see 
I'm  due  out  at  Merton  for  a  meeting  of  the 
House  Committee  to-night.  I  stayed  down 
at  Littleton  Center  till  the  last  minute  and 
now  I've  got  to  hustle  back,  for  we've  loads 
of  work  to  plan  out.  Drop  into  27  to- 
morrow as  soon  as  you  arrive  and  make  it 
your  headquarters  until  Jean's  room  is  settled. 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  11 

Come  down  to  the  Inn  for  lunch  with  me  at 
noon.  All  of  the  old  girls  will  be  there  and 
it  will  be  a  good  opportunity  to  introduce 
Jean  to  them.  You  know  there's  nothing 
like  knowing  the  right  girls  at  the  start. 

"  By  the  way,  did  you  know  that  Bess 
McNeil  was  married  last  week?  Oh,  I'm 
just  brim- full  of  news  to  tell  you,  but  it  will 
have  to  wait  till  later,  for  I  must  leave  you 
now  or  I'll  never  catch  the  5 109.  So  glad 
to  have  met  you,  Nan;  seems  like  old  times, 
and  I  think  your  cousin  is  a  perfect  dear. 
So  long  till  to-morrow,"  and  with  this  she 
dashed  across  the  station  to  a  waiting  taxicab 
which  would  convey  her  and  her  bags  across 
the  city  to  the  North  Station. 

Jean's  trunks  were  soon  re-checked  and 
the  two  girls  left  the  station  and  took  an 
uptown  electric.  Before  long  they  alighted 
and  entered  a  quiet  hotel  where  a  good  dinner 
was  quickly  served.  Since  Jean's  arrival 
the  two  girls  had  talked  a  steady  stream,  but 
the  conversation  had  centered  almost  en- 
tirely upon  the  families  and  home  life  of  the 
two.  Now,  however,  it  changed  to  the  more 


12       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

important  subject  of  college.  Anna  did  most 
of  the  talking,  for  it  took  a  long  time  to  answer 
Jean's  many  questions.  How  much  there  was 
to  be  said.  In  fact,  Anna  might  have  sat  there 
all  night  discoursing  on  the  joys  and  sorrows 
of  a  college  girl's  life  if  a  sweet-sounding 
clock  had  not  reminded  her  that  in  a  very  few 
moments  the  last  suburban  train  departed  for 
Framington.  Quickly  she  paid  her  bill  and 
they  were  on  their  way  again. 

Although  it  was  rather  late  when  they  ar- 
rived home,  they  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mait- 
landt  waiting  for  them.  After  a  most  cordial 
greeting,  Mrs.  Maitlandt  suggested  that  they 
all  retire,  as  it  had  been  a  hard  day  for  Jean 
and  she  must  be  fresh  and  rested  for  her  first 
day  at  college. 

After  the  good-nights  had  been  said,  Jean 
found  herself  alone  in  her  room  a  little  be- 
wildered in  her  new  surroundings.  Her  poor 
body  and  head  ached  as  she  had  never  known 
them  to  do  before.  To  be  sure,  everybody 
had  been  so  good  to  her,  but  now  they  had 
all  left  her  and  for  the  first  time  since  she 
had  left  home  she  was  alone.  Quickly  un- 


THE  DAY  BEFORE  13 

dressing  she  put  out  her  electric  light  and  went 
over  to  the  window.  It  was  a  bright,  starry 
night  and  as  she  gazed  out  upon  its  splendor 
a  wave  of  homesickness  swept  over  her  and 
she  sobbed,  "  Oh,  father  and  the  boys,  why 
did  I  leave  you?  I  wish  I'd  never  promised 
to  go  to  college." 


CHAPTER  II 

HOW   IT   LOOKED   ON    WEDNESDAY 

BRIGHT  and  early  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, Jean  was  up  and  dressed,  for  the 
two  girls  had  planned  an  early  start 
in  order  to  reach  Ashton  before  noon.  Mr. 
Maitlandt,  whose  business  took  him  into  Bos- 
ton every  day,  accompanied  them  to  the 
South  Station  and  saw  them  safely  on  a 
North  Bound  elevated.  They  easily  caught 
the  10:17  train  for  Ashton  and  in  twelve 
minutes  had  arrived  at  the  little  station,  where 
they  found  "  confusion  worse  confounded." 
Girls  and  trunks  everywhere,  irate  and  tired 
expressmen  trying  to  settle  difficulties,  small 
boys  by  the  dozens  begging  to  carry  suit- 
cases, wagons  piled  high  with  trunks  and 
packing-boxes. 

They   waded   through   the   crowd   and,   as 
Anna  spied  Mr.   Chapin,  the  express  agent, 
she  hastened  up  to  where  he  stood  and  said, 
14 


ON  WEDNESDAY  15 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Chapin.  Of  course 
you  remember  me,  Anna  Maitlandt.  No, 
I'm  not  back  for  post  graduate;  I  have  only 
come  out  for  a  few  days  to  see  that  my 
cousin  gets  started  properly  as  a  freshman. 
Here  are  her  trunk  checks  and  when  you  have 
time  will  you  please  see  that  they  are  taken 
up  to  Merton,  45.  Any  time  to-day  will  do, 
but  of  course  we  should  like  them  as  soon 
as  possible.  Thank  you."  And  he  was  off 
again  before  she  could  say  more  had  she 
wished  to  do  so. 

Just  then  they  heard,  "  Why,  Nan  Mait- 
landt, what  on  earth  are  you  doing  out  here 
to-day  ?  "  and  a  tall  girl  darted  round  a  pile 
of  trunks.  "  I've  brought  my  young  sister 
Bess  to  college  and  we're  having  a  terrible 
time.  Only  one  of  her  trunks  has  come,  and 
not  a  thing  in  it  that  she  really  wants.  We've 
been  arguing  with  old  Chapie  for  an  hour,  but 
it  doesn't  do  one  bit  of  good." 

"  Nell,  how  like  old  times  it  seems.  You 
always  were  in  some  kind  of  trouble  all  our 
four  years  and  it  wouldn't  be  you  if  some- 
thing wasn't  wrong.  How  many  times  do 


16       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

you  suppose  you  lost  one  of  your  trunks,  or 
books,  or  hats,  or  themes,  or  tennis  rackets? 
But  you  always  found  them  sooner  or  later 
and  I'm  confident  your  sister's  trunk  will 
turn  up  all  right.  I  want  you  to  know  my 
cousin,  Jean  Cabot,  from  Los  Angeles.  She 
and  your  sister  will  be  in  the  same  class.  Jean 
is  to  live  in  Merton.  Where  is  Bess  as- 
signed?" 

"  Poor  child,  she  didn't  make  the  campus 
this  year  and  is  to  room  first  semester  at  Mrs. 
McAllister's,  but  I  hope  second  half  she  will 
get  in  East  or  Wellington,  for  you  know  so 
many  drop  out  at  midyear's  that  there's 
always  a  chance.  How  long  will  you  be 
here?  Can't  you  come  down  to  the  Cottage 
with  your  cousin  ?  " 

"  Thanks,  Nell,  but  I  expect  to  be  very 
busy  and  I'm  only  here  for  a  few  days.  You 
know  I  begin  hospital  work  at  the  Massa- 
chusetts General  the  first  of  October  and  I 
need  every  minute  at  home.  But  I'll  try  to 
see  you  somewhere  if  it's  only  for  a  few  min- 
utes. I  want  to  hear  all  about  yourself  and 
the  other  girls." 


ON  WEDNESDAY  17 

It  took  but  a  few  moments  to  leave  the  little 
station  and  its  confusion  behind  them  and 
Jean  said,  "  Why,  Anna,  are  we  the  last  ones 
to  arrive?  Everybody  seems  to  be  at  the 
station." 

"  No,  child,  they're  mostly  freshmen.  The 
upper-class  girls  won't  arrive  until  to-night  or 
early  in  the  morning.  You  know  to-morrow 
is  registration  day  and  classes  won't  meet 
until  Friday  and  Saturday.  Now  look 
straight  ahead  of  you  up  the  hill  and  you  will 
get  your  first  view  of  the  campus.  Let  me 
tell  you  some  of  the  buildings  even  if  yog 
don't  remember  them  all.  That  tower  is  the 
chapel;  the  trees  hide  the  building  itself,  but 
we  shall  see  it  better  as  we  climb  the  hill. 
The  white  building  is  the  new  library,  not 
quite  finished  as  yet;  to  the  right  is  East, 
next  to  that  College  Hall ;  opposite  is  Welling- 
ton; those  dark-red  buildings  are  the  labora- 
tories and  away  over  beyond  is  Merton.  We 
will  walk  slowly  up  Faculty  Row  and  get  a 
closer  view.  The  rest  of  the  dormitories  are 
on  the  other  side  of  the  hill.  Don't  you  love 
the  hill  already  ?  Aren't  the  trees  wonderful  ? 


i8        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

The  leaves  are  just  beginning  to  turn  and 
soon  will  be  at  their  best.  Wait  till  you  see 
the  ivy  on  the  chapel  in  its  brilliant  autumn 
coloring.  Before  long  you'll  be  racking 
your  poor  brain  to  sing  its  praises,  for  every 
one  in  Lit.  I  has  to  write  a  sonnet  on  the 
glory  of  the  ivy  on  the  chapel  tower.  Miss 
Whiting,  '  prof '  in  Lit.  I,  is  daffy  on  the 
subject  and  you'll  find  her  any  time  in  the 
fall  lingering  in  the  shadows  of  the  tower 
and  rhapsodizing  on  its  beauty. 

"  Here's  '  Prexy's  '  house.  Isn't  it  dear  ? 
It  was  finished  only  last  year  and  modeled 
after  a  little  English  house  in  Stratford-on- 
Avon  where  Miss  Emerson  spent  several 
summers.  Miss  Thurston,  the  dean,  lives 
there  with  her.  Be  sure  you  get  on  the  right 
side  of  Miss  Thurston,  freshman  year,  Jean, 
and  then  you'll  be  safe  for  the  other  three." 

"  Other  three !  Why,  Anna  Maitlandt,  I've 
only  come  to  college  for  this  one  year. 
Nothing  on  earth  could  make  me  stay  any 
longer.  I've  made  up  my  mind  on  that  sub- 
ject, and  when  a  Cabot  once  makes  up  his 
mind  he  never  changes  it.  I'll  do  the  best 


ON  WEDNESDAY  19 

I  can  this  year,  but  when  June  comes  you 
can  be  sure  I'll  start  for  home  on  the  very 
first  train  and  stay  there  the  rest  of  my 
life." 

"  Oh,  Jean,  college  hasn't  begun  yet.  Wait 
till  midyear's  and  I'll  wager  by  that  time 
you'll  be  the  most  enthusiastic  freshman  on 
the  hill,  with  room-mate  chosen  and  plans 
all  made  for  sophomore  year.  College  life 
grows  on  you,  and  once  it  has  made  a  start 
you  can't  stop  it.  I'm  not  going  to  give  you 
a  bit  of  advice  now,  but  just  before  I  leave 
I've  a  word  or  two  for  you. 

"  Here  we  are  at  old  Merton.  We  have 
talked  so  much  I  forgot  to  point  out  the  other 
buildings.  How  do  you  like  the  looks  of 
your  new  home?  I  tried  four  of  the  dormi- 
tories and  liked  this  the  best  of  them  all  and 
Mrs.  Thompson  is  a  gem  of  a  matron.  Let's 
go  right  in  and  see  her  now." 

Mrs.  Thompson's  rooms  were  on  the  first 
floor  opposite  the  parlors  and  reading-room. 
She  was  a  large,  cheery  woman  who  welcomed 
the  girls  in  a  way  that  made  them  feel  at 
home  instantly. 


20       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  We  haven't  begun  our  regular  meals  yet 
for  so  few  of  the  girls  are  here,  but  I  should 
be  pleased  to  have  you  both  lunch  with  me  in 
my  sitting-room." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Thompson,  but  we  have 
promised  to  go  down  to  the  Inn.  Has  Miss 
Fairfax,  who  is  to  be  Miss  Cabot's  room- 
mate, arrived  yet?" 

"  No ;  we  received  word  this  morning  that 
owing  to  sickness  in  her  family  she  may  be 
delayed  several  days.  So  if  you  like,  Miss 
Maitlandt,  you  may  be  Miss  Cabot's  room- 
mate until  the  real  one  arrives." 

"  Thanks ;  it  will  be  quite  like  old  days  to 
be  rooming  again  in  Merton.  We'll  go  up 
directly,  Jean,"  and  they  darted  up  the  stairs. 
"  Let's  stop  in  Peggy's  room  on  second  for  a 
minute." 

Stopping  before  27,  Anna  gave  a  vigorous 
knock  and  receiving  no  response  opened  the 
door  and  entered  the  room,  followed  by  Jean. 
Evidently  both  of  the  occupants  had  arrived, 
for  the  room  was  in  perfect  order  and  pre- 
sented a  most  attractive  appearance.  Anna 
walked  over  to  one  of  the  desks  and  found 


ON  WEDNESDAY  21 

a  note  addressed  to  herself.     Opening  it  she 
read  aloud: 

"  DEAR  NAN  :  Natalie  and  I  couldn't  resist  the  call 
of  the  game  and  we're  up  on  the  courts  for  a  set  of 
tennis.  Meet  us  at  the  Inn  at  one  o'clock  sharp.  Has- 
tily, PEG." 

"  Those  two  are  fiends  at  tennis  and 
Natalie  won  the  college  championship  last 
year  and  she  was  only  a  sophomore.  Gen- 
erally it  goes  to  a  senior;  in  fact,  Natalie  is 
the  first  under-class  girl  to  win  the  honor. 
Wait  till  she's  up  against  you,  Jean.  Oh, 
I  have  it,  there's  something  for  you  to  work 
for.  Why  not  be  the  first  and  only  Ashton 
freshman  to  win  the  Tennis  Championship? 
You  can  do  it  if  you  try.  Why,  Tom  says 
you  are  the  speediest  girl  player  he  ever  saw, 
and  for  a  fellow  to  admit  that  a  girl  can  play 
tennis  means  more  than  anything  else  I  know 
of. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  their  rooms  ? 
The  bedroom  is  just  off  at  this  side.  Evi- 
dently their  enthusiasm  waned  when  they 
finished  the  study,  for  clothes  are  piled  moun- 
tain high  on  their  beds.  It  isn't  fair  to  criti- 


22        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

cize  first  day,  though,  so  let's  up  to  fourth." 
As  they  walked  slowly  up  the  stairs,  Jean 
said  a  little  hesitatingly,  "  Why,  cousin,  our 
rooms  will  never  look  like  that  unless  my 
room-mate  has  all  those  pretty  things.  I 
haven't  any  pictures  except  father's  and  the 
boys'  and  they  had  pictures  everywhere. 
And  I  haven't  any  flags  or  tea-table  or 
chafing-dish  or  pillows  or  anything  attract- 
ive." 

"  Never  mind  that,  Jean ;  it's  easy  enough 
to  get  such  things.  We'll  put  the  necessary 
things  in  order  and  then  make  a  list  of  the 
other  things  you  want,  and  a  trip  in  town 
to-morrow  will  purchase  them  all.  Most' 
girls  are  not  as  fortunate  as  you  in  the  matter 
of  money,  for  I  know  you  can  have  anything 
money  will  buy.  So  don't  worry  about  it 
at  all.  Take  my  word  for  it,  don't  have  too 
much  in  your  room.  The  simpler  the  ar- 
rangement, the  better.  First-year  girls  are 
apt  to  fill  every  inch  of  space  with  pictures  and 
souvenirs  that  senior  year  they  would  be 
ashamed  to  own.  You  can  always  tell  an 
upper-class  girl's  room  at  first  glance.  You 


ON  WEDNESDAY  23 

notice  for  yourself  and  see  what  it  is  that 
makes  a  room  attractive  to  you,  and  I  think 
in  the  end  you  will  agree  with  me. 

"  Why,  45  is  locked  and  we  haven't  the 
key.  You  wait  a  minute  here  and  I'll  run 
down  and  see  Mrs.  Thompson.  Sit  down  on 
the  suit-cases  and  I'll  be  back  before  you  can 
count  ten." 

But  it  was  a  good  ten  minutes  before 
Anna  returned,  for  she  evidently  had  some 
difficulty  in  finding  the  matron.  For  about 
five  minutes  Jean  sat  alone  and  thought  of 
everything  but  college,  then  she  leaned  back 
against  the  wall  and  closed  her  eyes,  for  ex- 
citement had  tired  her  a  bit.  Suddenly  a 
loud  laugh  aroused  her  and  she  heard,  "  Well, 
I  never,  a  freshman  asleep  at  the  switch! 
What's  the  matter,  stranger,  can  I  help  you  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you ;  I'm  waiting  for  some  one 
to  come  and  unlock  my  door.  We  couldn't 
find  the  key.  My  cousin  has  gone  to  find 
Mrs.  Thompson." 

"  Well,  in  the  meantime,  come  right  over 
into  my  room.  I'm  to  live  just  opposite. 
My  name's  Remington,  Midge,  or,  more 


24       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

properly  speaking,  Marjorie  Remington,  1915. 
Of  course  I'm  a  sophomore  and  your  hated 
enemy,  but  that  needn't  make  any  difference 
yet.  Leave  your  bags  right  there.  Now  sit 
down  wherever  you  can  find  room.  Looks 
pretty  bad  round  here,  doesn't  it,  but  you 
see  I  only  arrived  this  morning.  I've  a 
single  this  year.  Couldn't  stand  another 
room-mate.  Nearly  died  last  year  with  the 
three  I  had.  First  girl  flunked  out  at 
Thanksgiving,  second's  mother  died  and  she 
left  at  midyear's,  and  the  rest  of  the  time  I 
had  the  greasiest  grind  in  the  class  to  live  with. 
I  never  studied  and  she  always  wanted  to, 
so  there  was  trouble  from  the  start.  How 
are  you  on  the  study  question  ?  " 

Before  Jean  could  answer  she  heard  Anna 
hurrying  up  the  hall  and  she  excused  herself 
quickly.  The  door  of  45  was  soon  opened  and 
the  room  indeed  presented  a  desolate  appear- 
ance. To  be  sure,  it  was  clean  and  large  and 
had  plenty  of  windows,  but  the  pieces  of  furni- 
ture were  merely  stacked  up  in  the  center  in 
one  huge  pile. 

Jean  simply  gasped  "  Oh ! "  but  before  she 


ON  WEDNESDAY  25 

could  finish,  Anna  said,  "  Put  everything  down 
in  the  corner  and  come  over  here  and  see  the 
view."  Indeed,  from  the  southeast  corner 
window  there  was  a  wonderful  view  of  the 
surrounding  country,  and  as  here  and  there 
Anna  pointed  out  interesting  places,  Jean's 
attention  was  drawn  from  the  bareness  and 
unattractiveness  of  the  room  to  the  beauty  of 
the  landscape. 

"  Now  we'll  not  do  a  thing  here  until  after 
lunch  and  then  we'll  work  like  Trojans  and 
get  the  place  livable.  How's  your  appetite? 
I'm  nearly  starved.  It's  almost  one  o'clock, 
so  we'll  have  to  hustle  to  meet  the  girls  on 
time." 

When  they  arrived  at  the  Inn  they  found 
it  thronged  with  girls,  but  Marguerite  was 
waiting  for  them  and  said  that  she  had  re- 
served a  table  and  that  Natalie  was  waiting 
inside.  They  entered  the  dining-room  and 
were  immediately  seated  in  an  extreme  corner 
near  a  large  window.  Introductions  were 
soon  over  and  Jean  thought  Natalie  the  most 
attractive  girl  she  had  yet  seen.  She  was 
her  exact  opposite  in  every  way,  small,  dark, 


26        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

with  large  dancing  brown  eyes  and  an 
abundance  of  wavy  brown  hair.  Her  face 
and  arms  were  brown  as  berries  and  just 
now,  when  violent  exercise  had  flushed  her 
cheeks,  the  heightened  color  came  and  went 
as  she  talked.  Immediately  she  and  Jean 
found  a  common  subject  of  conversation  in 
tennis  and  Jean  talked  as  she  had  not  done 
before  with  any  one.  Girls  came  up  to  their 
table  with  pleasant  words  of  greeting  and 
passed  on  and  before  Jean  was  quite  aware 
of  it  lunch  was  over  and  they  were  on  their 
way  back  to  Merton. 

Natalie  and  Jean  walked  together  and  soon 
Jean  was  telling  her  all  about  the  ranch  and 
her  early  life  there.  When  they  reached  the 
dormitory  the  two  juniors  insisted  upon  going 
up  to  45  to  help  put  things  in  order.  "  You 
know  we  juniors  are  your  staunchest  friends, 
even-year  classes  against  the  odd  years,"  said 
Natalie. 

So  up  the  stairs  went  the  four  and  took 
possession  of  45.  They  first  chose  the  bed- 
room furniture  and  placed  it  in  the  small 
adjoining  room.  There  were  two  white  beds, 


ON  WEDNESDAY  27 

two  chiffoniers  and  two  small  chairs.  To 
tell  the  truth,  the  room  could  hardly  have 
held  any  more,  and  it  required  some  care  to 
place  this  amount  so  that  there  was  any  walk- 
ing space.  "We  can't  make  up  the  beds 
until  your  trunks  are  unpacked,  so  let's  tackle 
the  study,"  said  Peggy. 

Out  in  the  other  room  there  was  one  large 
study-table,  two  small  book-cases,  two  desks, 
a  large  couch,  and  two  comfortable  rockers. 
Just  as  they  were  moving  some  of  these  into 
place  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  Joe, 
the  colored  janitor,  announced  the  arrival  of 
Jean's  trunks.  These  he  put  in  the  middle  of 
the  room  and  unstrapped  them. 

"What!  Three  trunks?  Aren't  you  the 
lucky  girl  to  have  enough  to  put  in  them? 
It's  all  I  can  do  to  fill  one,"  said  Peggy  Alli- 
son, whose  love  of  clothes  was  her  greatest 
failing. 

"  Father  insisted  upon  Aunt  Molly's  super- 
intending my  wardrobe,  and  all  summer  long 
I've  done  nothing  but  try  on  clothes  until  I 
don't  care  whether  I  ever  see  any  more  or 
not.  That  largest  trunk  has  the  few  things 


28       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

I  brought  for  my  room."  From  the  top  of 
the  trunk  she  lifted  one  box  very  carefully 
and  showed  the  three  girls  the  pictures  of 
"  her  family  "  as  she  called  the  five.  Surely 
they  were  splendid  examples  of  American 
manhood,  and  one  could  not  blame  any  girl 
for  being  loath  to  leave  them. 

"  Sometime  soon  I'm  coming  up  to  visit 
you,  Miss  Cabot,  and  I  want  you  to  tell  me 
all  about  your  family  and  especially  this  mem- 
ber of  it,"  and  Peggy  held  up  the  picture  of  the 
second  son,  Nelson  Cabot,  a  somewhat  serious- 
looking  fellow. 

"  Oh,  Nels  ?  Why,  he's  coming  east  on 
business  in  the  winter  and  he  has  promised 
to  spend  a  week  in  Boston  and  give  me  the 
time  of  my  young  life,  as  he  says.  Of  course 
he'll  come  out  here,  and  then  you  can  see  him 
and  judge  for  yourself.  We  all  call  him  our 
'  serious  brother,'  but  he's  got  fun  in  him  just 
the  same  when  he  gets  started. 

"  Now  let's  make  out  a  list  of  the  things 
you  really  think  I  need  for  my  room.  I'll  do 
my  share  before  my  room-mate  appears  and 
she'll  find  such  a  comfortable  room  that  she'll 


ON  WEDNESDAY  29 

be  glad  I  arrived  first.  Now  I  want  a  tea- 
table  and  '  fixings '  like  yours,  Peggy,  and 
a  chafing-dish,  some  ferns,  rugs,  curtains, 
pictures,  a  couch-cover,  chairs " —  and  the 
girls  added  one  thing  and  another  to  the  list 
until  it  was  a  very  long  one.  Jean  detested 
shopping,  and  Anna  made  a  most  welcome 
promise  to  help  her  out  with  the  difficulties  the 
following  afternoon. 

The  two  juniors  were  to  be  busy  in  the 
evening,  so,  left  to  themselves,  Jean  and  Anna 
enjoyed  a  long  walk  after  supper.  As  they 
returned  across  the  campus,  lights  twinkled 
in  the  windows  of  the  dormitories,  happy 
voices  and  the  occasional  burst  of  music 
floated  out  on  the  still  evening  air.  Once 
Anna  stood  perfectly  still  for  several  moments 
and  then  exclaimed  almost  to  herself,  "  Oh, 
how  I  love  it  all!  How  I  wish  I  were  just 
beginning  college!  Oh,  Ashton,  how  much 
you  have  done  for  me !  " 

Then  with  scarcely  a  word  they  ap- 
proached old  Merton  and  climbed  slowly  to 
45.  "I  told  you,  Jean,  that  before  I  left  I 
was  going  to  give  you  a  little  advice.  It's 


3o       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

only  this,  Go  slowly,  choose  the  best  of  every- 
thing, make  the  best  of  everything  and  love 
old  Ashton  better  than  anything  else  in  the 
world." 


CHAPTER  III 

FIRST    IMPRESSIONS 

JEAN  awoke  with  a  start  and  sat  straight 
up  in  bed.  "  Don't  be  alarmed,  Jean," 
said  Anna ;  "  it  isn't  a  fire ;  just  the  ris- 
ing bell  which  rings  every  morning  at  ten 
minutes  before  seven.  There's  another  one 
at  seven  and  the  breakfast  bell  at  half -past. 
Of  course  no  one  needs  forty  minutes  to  dress 
for  breakfast,  and  before  long  you  will  be 
able  to  do  it  in  five,  or  ten  at  the  most.  Meals 
are  served  promptly  here  and  Mrs.  Thompson 
is  very  particular  about  having  every  one  on 
time.  So  if  you  do  oversleep  I  warn  you 
that  you'll  get  no  breakfast  unless  you  keep  a 
good  supply  of  food  in  your  room.  And 
there's  danger  in  that,  too,  for  mice  fairly 
haunt  these  rooms,  especially  the  closets  and 
behind  the  radiators,  for  that's  a  favorite 
dumping  place  for  crumbs.  I  remember  the 
winter  that  our  room  seemed  to  be  a  regular 
31 


32        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

gathering-place  for  them,  and  once  when  I  had 
one  of  the  girls  from  home  out  here  over 
night  we  had  a  merry  chase  with  five  from 
under  our  beds  before  we  could  get  any  sleep. 
One  morning  not  long  after  that  my  room- 
mate found  one  in  her  bed  when  she  was 
making  it  up.  She  never  knew  whether  it 
had  been  there  all  night  or  not,  but  she  very 
carefully  examined  her  bed  ever  after  that  be- 
fore she  got  into  it 

"  Well,  suppose  we  arise  and  take  plenty  of 
time  to  dress  this  morning  and  make  our  best 
appearance  at  the  breakfast  table.  You  know 
first  impressions  are  often  lasting  and  as  most 
of  the  girls  here  are  upper-class  girls  I  want 
them  to  see  you  at  your  best.  Of  course, 
dear,  you  always  look  well;  you  can't  help  it 
any  more  than  you  can  help  breathing,  but 
this  is  a  special  occasion.  Wear  one  of  those 
good-looking  white  linens  I  saw  you  hang 
up  in  the  closet  last  night.  I  must  say  I  ad- 
mire your  Aunt  Molly's  choice  of  materials 
and  dressmaker,  judging  from  the  clothes  I've 
seen  so  far.  You  must  open  the  other  trunk 
and  show  me  your  best  gowns  before  I  depart. 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  33 

And  by  the  way,  Jean,  that  must  be  to-night. 
We'll  start  in  town  early  and  have  a  good 
afternoon  of  it  and  I'll  leave  you  at  the  North 
Station  on  the  right  train  for  Ashton.  You 
won't  mind  the  short  ride  out  here  alone,  will 
you?  I'd  love  to  stay  the  rest  of  the  week, 
but  you  know  how  little  time  I  have  left  to 
finish  my  preparations  for  the  hospital,  and  I 
wouldn't  be  found  deficient  for  anything. 

"Of  course  you  take  a  cold  bath  every 
morning;  any  one  could  tell  that  just  to  look 
at  you.  Well,  hustle  into  the  bath-room  now, 
for  I  just  heard  some  one  leave  it.  When 
you're  finished,  please  draw  the  water  for 
me." 

As  the  two  girls  entered  the  long  dining- 
room  they  found  most  of  the  seats  at  table 
occupied,  for  they  were  a  bit  late  in  spite  of 
their  thirty  minutes.  However,  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son was  always  lenient  first  mornings  and 
greeted  them  with  a  pleasant  smile.  "  You 
will  sit  at  the  end  of  the  second  table,  Miss 
Cabot,  and  your  cousin  may  sit  beside  you 
this  morning,  as  Miss  White,  who  will  have 
that  seat  permanently,  has  not  yet  arrived." 


34        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Oh,  I  had  hoped  that  would  be  my  room- 
mate's seat.  Where  will  she  sit?" 

"  Why,  of  course  you  didn't  know  that  Miss 
Fairfax  is  to  wait  on  table  here  and  so  will 
not  have  a  regular  table  seat." 

At  these  words  Jean's  expression  changed 
and  she  looked  so  astonished  that  Anna  said 
softly,  "  You  know,  dear,  some  of  the  girls 
who  haven't  much  money  pay  their  board  by 
waiting  on  table.  Lots  of  girls  do  it,  and 
it's  perfectly  all  right.  Some  of  the  best 
girls  I  ever  knew  worked  their  way  through 
college."  Jean  said  nothing,  but  she  was  bit- 
terly disappointed.  Why  couldn't  her  room- 
mate have  been  Miss  Remington  or  some  one 
equally  attractive?  She  was  already  begin- 
ning to  wish  that  she'd  been  fortunate  enough 
to  draw  a  single  room. 

If  Nan  Maitlandt  had  wished  to  have  her 
cousin  make  a  favorable  impression  on  the 
other  girls  in  Merton  she  certainly  succeeded 
in  doing  so.  Jean  was  tall  and  broad-shoul- 
dered, with  a  splendidly  developed  figure,  a 
perfect  picture  of  health  and  strength.  She 
had  masses  of  yellow  hair  which  she  wore  this 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  35 

morning  coiled  in  thick  braids  round  her  well- 
shaped  head.  Her  eyes  were  dark  and  her 
skin,  naturally  fair,  was  now  somewhat  tanned 
from  her  out-of-door  life.  She  wore  a  severe 
white  linen  dress  with  a  turned  down  collar 
and  a  bow  of  black  which  set  off  her  style  of 
beauty  to  perfection.  She  carried  herself  well 
and  with  head  held  high  in  the  air  she  had 
entered  the  room  almost  unconscious  of  its 
occupants.  The  girls  stared  for  a  moment 
and  then  whispered  comments  on  her  beauty 
and  wondered  who  she  could  be.  Mrs. 
Thompson  soon  went  the  rounds  of  the  ta- 
bles introducing  the  new  girls  until  at  length 
everybody  knew  everybody  else. 

There  were  about  a  hundred  girls  seated  at 
the  three  long  tables  and  only  here  and  there 
appeared  a  vacant  seat.  At  Jean's  table  there 
were  five  freshmen  besides  herself,  and  much 
to  her  satisfaction  she  soon  discovered  her 
acquaintance  of  the  day  before,  Miss  Reming- 
ton, half  way  down  the  other  side  of  the  table. 
Peggy  Allison  and  her  room-mate  were  at  the 
first  table  at  the  opposite  end  from  Jean,  but 
they  waved  her  a  hearty  welcome,  even  at  that 


36       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

distance.  She  looked  at  the  girls  around  her 
laughing  and  talking  and  seeming  so  perfectly 
at  home  and  she  had  to  admit  to  herself  that 
they  were  a  happy  lot  and  if  so  many  girls 
found  college  such  good  fun  there  ought  to  be 
something  in  it  for  her.  Most  of  the  con- 
versation at  her  end  of  the  table  seemed  to 
be  on  summer  vacations  and  proposed  studies 
for  the  coming  year.  Just  beyond  Nan  sat 
a  freshman  named  Miss  Samson,  who  after 
some  deliberation  found  the  courage  to  lean 
forward  a  little  and  ask  Jean  if  she  had  decided 
what  studies  to  take.  Jean  answered  cordially 
in  the  negative  and  added  that  her  cousin  was 
to  help  her  choose  them  later  on.  She  was 
conditioned  in  French,  so  she  supposed  she'd 
have  to  take  that,  although  she  hated  it  thor- 
oughly. 

After  breakfast  the  girls  collected  here  and 
there  about  the  reading-room  and  halls  in  lit- 
tle groups.  Miss  Remington  came  up  at  once 
to  where  Jean  was  standing  and  talked  casu- 
ally about  her  room  and  trunks  and  then  asked 
her  how  long  her  cousin  would  remain  with 
her.  Upon  hearing  that  she  was  to  leave  that 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  37 

evening  she  promised  to  spend  the  night  with 
Jean,  so  she  wouldn't  get  lonesome.  Jean 
was  delighted,  for  to  herself  she  admitted 
that  Marjorie  appealed  much  more  to  her  than 
any  of  the  other  girls  she  had  met,  excepting, 
perhaps,  Natalie  Lawton.  She  hoped  they 
were  going  to  be  good  friends  even  if  they 
were  not  in  the  same  class. 

Registration  was  to  be  at  ten  o'clock  and 
Nan  suggested  that  they  go  up  to  45  and  talk 
over  studies  before  Jean  made  out  her  pro- 
gramme. She  had  arranged  some  tennis  with 
Peggy  and  Natalie  at  ten-thirty  and  then  after 
lunch  they  would  take  the  first  train  for  Bos- 
ton. Nan  had  been  a  good,  all-around  girl 
in  college,  but  had  maintained  a  high  standard 
in  her  studies  and  was  anxious  to  have  Jean 
do  the  same,  but  she  was  discovering  that  Jean 
cared  very  little  for  her  books.  Every  fresh- 
man was  required  to  take  English  and  mathe- 
matics and  had  the  choice  of  the  other  sub- 
jects. As  Jean  had  been  conditioned  in  French 
her  cousin  suggested  that  she  begin  at  once  to 
remove  the  condition.  By  satisfactorily  com- 
pleting a  course  in  French  at  the  end  of  the 


38       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

year  this  could  be  done.  Jean  agreed  to  this 
and  then  after  much  discussion  she  decided  to 
add  German,  oratory  and  music  to  the  list, 
with  gymnasium  work  twice  a  week.  Mathe- 
matics and  German  were  to  come  Monday, 
Wednesday  and  Friday  mornings ;  French  and 
English,  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday 
mornings;  oratory  once  a  week  on  a  day  to 
be  announced  later ;  "  gym "  two  hours  each 
on  Tuesday  and  Thursday  afternoons  and 
music  two  hours  a  week  when  she  could  ar- 
range it  with  the  instructor. 

"  That  looks  like  a  pretty  stiff  programme 
to  me,  Nan,"  said  Jean ;  "  I  don't  see  any  time 
in  the  week  for  anything  but  studying.  A 
girl  can't  study  all  the  time,  you  know.  I 
want  to  do  other  things,  too." 

"  You  will  find  plenty  of  time  for  other 
things,  dear,  for  this  isn't  a  very  hard  pro- 
gramme. You  will  find  any  number  of  girls 
taking  more  than  you  have.  You'll  have 
every  Saturday  afternoon  free,  and  generally 
the  girls  go  in  town  to  the  theater  that  day. 
Boston  always  has  all  the  best  plays  and  music 
and  there  are  Wednesday  matinees,  too.  I 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  39 

don't  advise  cutting  recitations,  but  once  in  a 
while  when  there's  something  worth  while  it 
won't  do  any  harm.  Then,  Friday  afternoon 
is  Symphony  rehearsal,  which  you  must  hear 
once  in  a  while.  The  faculty  very  often  ad- 
vise the  girls  to  attend  certain  performances 
and  are  very  willing  to  chaperon  them. 
Speaking  of  the  faculty,  I  think  you  are  going 
to  enjoy  all  of  yours,  for  I  had  them  all  with 
the  exception  of  Miss  Whittemore,  the  gym 
instructor,  who  is  new  this  year,  and  I  can 
vouch  for  them.  My  advice  is  to  work  hard  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year,  get  the  principles  of 
the  study  and  a  good  foundation  and  the  sec- 
ond half-year  will  come  easy.  Don't  let 
things  slide,  for  it's  awfully  hard  to  make  up 
a  lot  of  work  in  a  short  time.  If  you  must 
cut  classes  or  chapel,  cut  consistently.  To- 
morrow morning  you  will  meet  some  of  the  in- 
structors and  have  lessons  assigned  for  next 
week.  Things  will  hardly  be  in  running  order 
before  a  week,  so  you  can  take  your  own  time 
for  a  few  days.  Now  we'll  start  for  the  of- 
fice and  get  registration  off  our  hands.  Is 
your  programme  written  out  carefully;  ready 


40       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

to  pass  in  to  the  clerk?  Let's  stop  for  the 
other  freshmen  on  our  way  downstairs  so  we 
can  all  go  together." 

Nan  and  her  six  charges  hurried  up  the 
hill  as  the  college  clock  rang  out  its  ten  strokes. 
The  office  was  crowded  and  each  girl  had  to 
pass  in  single  file  before  the  registrar.  It 
took  some  time  for  Jean  to  reach  the  desk  and 
when  at  length  it  was  her  turn  to  sign  her 
name  to  the  great  book  and  pass  her  pro- 
gramme to  the  waiting  clerk  she  gave  a  sigh 
of  relief.  Now  she  was  a  freshman  and  the 
year  had  actually  begun,  and  there  was  no 
turning  back.  Hurriedly  the  six  girls  were 
shown  over  College  Hall  and  Nan  pointed  out 
the  mathematics  room  and  then  the  French 
room  and  so  on  until  they  all  knew  where  to 
go  on  the  following  days.  In  one  of  the 
rooms  on  the  third  floor  they  met  Miss  Whit- 
ing, and  as  Nan  had  always  enjoyed  her 
courses  in  spite  of  some  rather  marked  pe- 
culiarities, she  was  glad  to  stop  and  talk  with 
her  and  have  her  know  her  charges.  They 
talked  a  few  moments,  long  enough  to  have 
her  ask  the  girls  if  they  had  yet  seen  the  ivy 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  41 

on  the  chapel  tower.  Nan  had  to  admit  that 
as  yet  they  had  not,  pleading  as  her  excuse 
that  she  wished  them  to  see  the  chapel  for  the 
first  time  the  following  day  at  chapel  exer- 
cises. Remembering  her  tennis  appointment, 
Nan  invited  the  other  freshmen  to  accompany 
Jean  and  herself  to  the  courts,  but  as  they 
had  their  rooms  to  settle  and  letters  to  write 
they  returned  to  the  hall. 

Soon  the  two  reached  the  courts  and  found 
plenty  of  girls  enjoying  the  game.  They  had 
time  for  two  sets  in  which  Jean  showed  her 
skill  and  she  and  Nan  easily  defeated  their  op- 
ponents, causing  Peggy  to  exclaim,  "  You  see, 
Nat,  it's  as  I  said,  you'll  have  to  work  hard 
for  championship  next  year." 

The  afternoon  passed  all  too  quickly  for 
Jean.  Nan  knew  just  what  stores  to  shop  in 
and  just  what  to  buy  and  before  she  realized 
it  the  long  list  had  been  bought  and  ordered 
to  be  sent  out  to  Merton.  They  had  time  for 
tea  in  a  quiet  little  English  tea  room  which 
Nan  often  frequented,  and  here  she  told  Jean 
some  of  her  own  plans  for  the  future  and 
how  she  had  decided  to  take  up  hospital  work. 


42       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Her  conversation  revealed  quite  another  girl 
from  the  light-hearted  one  of  the  last  two 
days,  and  Jean  found  herself  admiring  her 
cousin  more  than  ever. 

"  You  must  come  in  to  see  me  whenever  I 
have  time  off  and  you  can  arrange  it.  I  shall 
feel  the  greatest  interest  in  your  life  at  col- 
lege, for  in  a  way  I  feel  responsible  for  it 
There  are  many  things  I  might  have  told  you, 
but  I  am  going  to  let  you  meet  problems  and 
solve  them  by  yourself.  Now  we  must  start 
for  the  station  or  we'll  miss  the  train." 

When  they  reached  the  station  Nan  said 
that  she  knew  they  would  find  friends  on  the 
train,  but  Jean  pleaded  to  be  left  alone,  for 
she  wanted  to  think  things  over  by  herself. 
Nan  stayed  until  the  train  pulled  out  of  sight 
and  then  gayly  started  homeward,  saying  to 
herself,  "  I'll  bet  on  Jean  every  time.  She'll 
have  no  end  of  trouble,  but  she'll  come  out 
all  right  in  the  end." 

When  the  train  drew  into  the  Ashton  Sta- 
tion Jean  alighted  with  the  others  and  as  she 
stepped  off  the  train  she  found  Marjorie  Rem- 
ington waiting  for  her. 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  43 

"  I  thought  you'd  be  out  on  this  train,  so  I 
came  down  to  meet  you."  So  saying,  she  put 
her  arm  through  Jean's  in  a  friendly  manner 
and  they  started  up  the  hill. 

"  Supper  isn't  for  half  an  hour  yet ;  let's  take 
a  walk  and  see  the  sunset  from  the  hill.  I 
never  stay  in  the  *  dorm '  when  there's  any 
possible  excuse  for  being  out  of  doors.  Thank 
goodness  there's  no  lessons  until  next  week. 
Have  you  promised  to  do  anything  Saturday 
afternoon?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jean. 

"  Well,  I  want  you  to  spend  it  with  me  then 
in  town.  I'll  get  tickets  for  '  The  Spring 
Maid ' ;  everybody's  wild  about  it.  Are  you 
fond  of  the  theater?" 

"  Yes,  but  I've  never  been  very  often  ex- 
cept once  in  a  while  with  father  or  one  of 
my  brothers.  We  live  some  distance  out  of 
the  city  and  it's  pretty  hard  getting  home  after 
the  theater." 

"  Oh,  I'm  just  crazy  over  it,  and  never  miss 
a  Saturday  afternoon  if  I  can  help  it." 

"  I'm  going  to  ask  Mrs.  Thompson  if  I  can 
change  seats  with  Miss  White  and  sit  next  to 


44        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

you  at  table.  I've  no  use  for  the  girls  who 
sit  on  either  side  of  me  and  I'd  much  rather 
sit  beside  you.  Let's  go  to  supper  now,  this 
walk  has  made  me  hungry  as  a  bear.  Wait  a 
minute  in  the  hall  while  I  speak  to  Mrs. 
Thompson  about  changing." 

When  Marjorie  returned  she  looked  any- 
thing but  pleased  and  exclaimed,  "  Just  like 
her,  says  she  has  assigned  the  seats  and  doesn't 
want  to  change  them  even  for  one  meal. 
Well,  I  sha'n't  tell  her  that  we're  going  to 
room  together  to-night,  for  I  suppose  she'd 
put  her  foot  down  on  that,  too.  She's  cer- 
tainly the  crankiest  individual  I  ever  ran  up 
against." 

As  the  two  girls  entered  the  dining-room, 
arm  in  arm,  several  of  the  older  girls  smiled 
and  looked  knowingly  at  each  other.  Peggy 
Allison  seemed  a  bit  worried,  as  she  whis- 
pered to  Natalie,  "  Midge  Remington's  up  to 
her  old  game  again,  always  appropriating  the 
best-looking  girl  in  the  place.  We'd  better 
look  out  or  we'll  lose  this  Jean  Cabot." 

After  supper,  one  of  the  girls  went  over  to 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  45 

the  piano  and  began  playing  a  dreamy  waltz. 
The  chairs  were  moved  to  one  side  and  several 
of  the  girls  began  to  dance.  Natalie  came  up 
to  Jean  and  asked  her  for  the  waltz.  f<  You'll 
have  to  lead,  Miss  Cabot,  you're  so  tall. 
Why,  it  will  be  almost  as  good  as  dancing  with 
a  man,  you're  so  big  and  strong." 

"  I  don't  know  how  to  lead,  Miss  Lawton. 
I  never  have  danced  with  girls  before." 

"  Well,  I'll  show  you  over  here  at  one  side. 
You'll  have  to  content  yourself  here  dancing 
with  girls,  for  we  only  have  men  on  state  oc- 
casions, which  are  few  and  far  between." 
And  the  two  left  the  others  for  a  little  lesson 
in  leading.  It  did  not  take  Jean  long  to  learn, 
and  soon  they  were  swinging  over  the  floor 
with  the  others. 

"  Why,  Miss  Lawton,"  exclaimed  Jean  as 
the  music  stopped,  "  I  wouldn't  have  believed 
it  could  be  such  fun  to  dance  with  girls  and 
lead.  Won't  she  play  some  more  music?" 

"Yes,  we  generally  dance  half  an  hour 
after  supper  every  evening  and  the  girls  take 
turns  playing.  Will  you  play  for  us  some 


46       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

times?  Nan  says  you  play  beautifully.  In 
Merton  we  believe  in  making  every  girl  do 
all  she  can  for  the  good  of  the  rest.  If  I 
don't  see  you  again  while  you're  dancing  I 
want  to  invite  you  down  to  27  Saturday  even- 
ing to  meet  some  of  my  friends  and  a  few  of 
the  freshmen,  I  hope  your  room-mate  will 
have  arrived  by  that  time;  if  so,  please  invite 
her  for  me,  although  I  shall  try  to  see  her  my- 
self. Thanks  for  this  splendid  dance."  And 
she  hastened  on  to  another  freshman. 

Jean  had  plenty  of  opportunities  to  dance 
and  at  the  last  dance  Marjorie  Remington 
came  up  to  her  and  said,  "  Now  for  my  turn. 
I've  been  waiting  patiently  all  the  evening. 
You  seem  to  be  in  great  demand." 

After  the  dance  was  finished  the  two  girls 
went  up  to  Marjorie's  room;  several  of  the 
other  girls  dropped  in  and  made  themselves 
comfortable  in  the  rather  close  quarters. 

"  Have  some  chocolates,  girls,"  said  Mar- 
jorie as  she  passed  them  a  large  five-pound 
Huyler's  box.  "  Wasn't  it  good  of  Jack  to 
leave  this  with  me  at  the  train  ?  "  Everybody 
but  Jean  seemed  to  know  who  Jack  was,  but 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  47 

she  asked  no  questions  and  the  conversation 
changed  from  one  subject  to  another.  Sud- 
denly there  came  a  knock  at  the  door.  As 
Marjorie  opened  it  the  girls  saw  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son standing  in  the  hall  with  a  shy,  timid  girl 
behind  her. 

"  Is  Miss  Cabot  in  your  room,  Miss  Rem- 
ington? I  saw  you  go  up  the  stairs  together. 
I  should  like  her  to  meet  her  room-mate,  Miss 
Fairfax,  who  has  just  arrived." 

Jean  left  the  room  and  the  merry  group  as- 
sembled there  and  went  somewhat  reluctantly 
into  45.  Introductions  were  soon  over  and 
Mrs.  Thompson  left  the  two  girls  together. 
Jean  soon  learned  that  it  was  Elizabeth's 
brother  who  had  been  ill  with  typhoid  fever, 
but  his  condition  was  so  much  improved  that 
she  was  no  longer  needed  at  home.  She  was 
very  tired,  for  it  had  been  five  long  weeks  that 
she  had  helped  to  care  for  him,  but  she  felt 
she  must  leave  for  college  as  soon  as  possible 
in  order  not  to  miss  any  more  than  was  abso- 
lutely necessary.  Could  she  go  to  bed  at  once, 
she  asked,  and  leave  all  her  unpacking  until 
the  next  day?  Jean  helped  her  as  best  she 


48       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

could  and  before  long  she  was  sound  asleep  in 
the  little  white  bed  and  Jean  stole  softly  back 
into  Marjorie's  room. 

The  girls  had  left  and  she  found  Marjorie 
propped  up  on  the  couch  writing  a  letter. 

"  Come  right  in.  I'm  only  writing  to  Jack 
to  thank  him  for  the  chocolates.  Well,  isn't 
it  a  shame  to  have  our  plans  for  to-night 
spoiled?  What  do  you  think  of  your  room- 
mate? Isn't  she  awful?  Worse  than  any  of 
mine.  Did  you  notice  her  hat?  Where  do 
you  suppose  she  hails  from?  Hard  luck  for 
you,  that's  all  I've  got  to  say.  Well,  make 
yourself  at  home  in  my  room  any  time  you 
want  to,  whether  I'm  here  or  not." 

"  Yes,  she  is  a  disappointment,  but  perhaps 
things  will  look  different  in  the  morning. 
Good  night,  I  guess  I'm  tired,  too,"  and  Jean 
left  the  room  and  was  soon  sleeping  quietly  in 
the  other  white  bed  in  45. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE   FRESHMAN    RECEPTION 

ALTHOUGH  Elizabeth  was  as  careful 
as  possible,  her  moving  to  and  fro  be- 
tween the  two  rooms  awakened  Jean, 
who,  after  wishing  her  good-morning,  offered 
to  arise  and  help  unpack. 

"  No,  Miss  Cabot,"  replied  Elizabeth,  "  it's 
only  five  o'clock;  please  don't  think  of  getting 
up  yet.  I  am  used  to  rising  early,  for  I've 
been  up  every  morning  all  summer  at  five. 
I'm  sorry  to  have  disturbed  you.  Can't  you 
get  to  sleep  again  ?  You  know  I'm  to  wait  on 
table  this  year  and  Mrs.  Thompson  wishes 
me  to  be  in  the  dining-room  at  seven  to  help 
in  setting  the  table.  I  thought  I  would  un- 
pack my  trunk  and  suit-case  before  breakfast, 
for  there  will  be  so  much  for  me  to  do  to-day 
I  probably  won't  have  another  opportunity.  If 
you  will  tell  me  where  to  put  things  I  can  get 
right  at  work  now.  Would  you  mind  if  I 
49 


50       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

called  you  by  your  first  name,  it  seems  so 
strange  to  say  '  Miss '  to  the  girl  I'm  to  live 
with  all  the  year?  My  name  is  Elizabeth." 

Instantly  Jean  arose  and  put  on  a  white 
silk  kimona,  splashed  with  great  pink  roses, 
slipped  her  feet  into  some  dainty  pink  silk 
quilted  slippers  and  then  led  the  way  into  the 
study,  where  she  sat  down  in  the  only  empty 
chair.  "  Why,  of  course  I  want  you  to  call 
me  by  my  first  name,  Elizabeth;  it's  Jean. 
How  do  you  like  the  arrangement  of  the 
rooms  so  far?  My  cousin  and  two  of  the 
juniors  helped  me  with  it.  It  looks  very  bare, 
but  we  bought  a  lot  of  things  in  town  yester- 
day and  as  soon  as  they  are  sent  out  we  can 
finish  settling.  That  is  your  desk  and  book- 
case and  here  is  your  clothes  closet.  I  bor- 
rowed one  or  two  of  your  hooks,  for  I  couldn't 
seem  to  find  room  enough  in  my  own  closet. 
I'll  take  the  dresses  down  now  and  put  them 
back  in  the  trunk." 

"  Oh,  please  don't,  Jean ;  all  my  dresses  to- 
gether won't  fill  the  hooks  on  one  side  of  the 
closet.  You're  welcome  to  this  whole  side." 

"  Thank  you.  Now  you  can  put  your  pictures 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION      51 

and  banners  anywhere  you  choose.  We  want 
to  make  our  room  as  attractive  as  possible  so 
our  friends  will  be  glad  to  come  and  see  us." 

"  I'm  afraid  I  haven't  many  attractive  things, 
for  the  room.  I  didn't  know  much  about  col- 
lege girls'  rooms,  and  besides  if  I  had  knowif 
I  couldn't  have  brought  them.  Father  is  only 
a  country  doctor  and  could  hardly  afford  to 
send  me  to  college  at  all.  It  will  be  a  strug- 
gle to  go  through  the  four  years,  but  I  mean 
to  do  it  if  hard  work  counts. 

"  I've  never  known  a  real  mother,  for  two 
years  after  mother's  death  my  father  married 
again  when  I  was  six  and  Brother  four.  Since 
then  we've  had  a  home  and  that's  about  all  as 
far  as  a  mother's  concerned.  Father  is  away 
most  of  the  time  and  doesn't  know  all  that 
happens  during  his  absence,  but  we  know  and 
never  can  forget.  Fathers  don't  seem  to  un- 
derstand children  very  well.  Perhaps  Brother 
and  I  have  been  more  to  each  other  than  most 
brothers  and  sisters,  for  we  had  to  make  up 
for  all  that  we  missed  in  others.  That's  the 
hardest  thing  for  me  in  coming  to  Ashton  — 
to  leave  Brother  at  home  sick  with  the  fever. 


52       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

He  means  to  go  to  college,  too,  sometime,  and 
after  two  years  here  I  hope  to  be  able  to  teach 
at  home  and  help  him  with  his  education.  I 
don't  know  why  I'm  telling  you  all  this,  for  I 
guess  it  doesn't  interest  you  at  all." 

"Yes,  it  does,  Elizabeth,  for  my  mother  is 
dead,  too,  and  I  have  five  brothers  and  the 
best  father  in  all  the  world,  and  I'm  here  to 
please  them,  but  you  can  believe  I'm  going 
back  to  them  after  one  year  of  it." 

"  What !  You  could  go  four  years  and 
graduate  if  you  wanted  to,  and  instead  you're 
only  going  freshman  year?  Why,  I'd  give 
everything  in  the  world  if  I  could  go  through 
the  four  years.  I've  thought  of  asking  per- 
mission to  take  extra  work  this  year  and  next, 
and  then  if  anything  should  happen  that  I 
could  come  back  a  third  year  I  could  do  the 
four  years'  work  in  three  and  graduate.  I 
want  a  college  diploma  so  much  I'll  do  any- 
thing to  get  it.  But  if  it's  a  question  of 
Brother's  giving  up  a  year  or  of  my  doing  so, 
it  will  not  be  he,  for  it  seems  as  though  he  were 
always  the  one  to  make  the  sacrifice. 

"Have  you  decided  what  you  are  to  take 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     53 

this  year?  There  are  so  many  things  I  want 
to  take  I  hardly  know  what  to  choose.  Tell 
me  your  programme.  Wouldn't  it  be  fine  if 
we  had  the  same  courses,  then  we  could  study 
together?" 

"  I'm  going  to  take  as  little  as  I  can,  for  I 
hate  studying.  I  think  my  cousin  Nan  has 
made  me  out  too  stiff  a  programme  and  I'll 
have  to  drop  something  before  I  flunk  out. 
I  want  to  keep  up  my  music,  anyway,  and  prac- 
tising does  take  a  lot  of  time.  Besides,  I  have 
English  and  mathematics  and  German  and 
French  and  of  course  oratory  and  gym,  be- 
cause they're  snap  courses." 

"  I  shall  take  Latin  instead  of  your  French, 
but  the  other  subjects  are  what  I  want,  too. 
In  place  of  your  music  I'd  like  some  history, 
for  that's  my  favorite  study.  I've  read  every- 
thing I  could  lay  my  hands  on  in  the  history 
line  and  never  could  get  half  enough.  I've 
longed  for  the  college  library  with  its  rows 
upon  rows  of  books.  If  ever  I'm  missing,  be 
sure  to  look  for  me  in  the  library.  Do  you 
suppose  my  being  a  day  late  will  make  any  dif- 
ference with  my  work?" 


54       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  No,  child,  for  all  we  did  yesterday  was 
to  register  and  pass  in  our  programmes.  You 
sent  them  word  that  you  were  delayed  at  home 
by  sickness  in  the  family  and  won't  be  fined, 
but  ordinarily  when  we  fail  to  register  on 
time  we  are  fined  five  dollars.  To-day  we 
are  to  go  to  the  classes  which  usually  meet  on 
Friday.  I  have  mathematics  at  nine  and  Ger- 
man at  ten,  and  probably  you  will  be  in  the 
same  divisions.  It's  mighty  hard  to  think  of 
studying  these  glorious  days.  How  I'd  enjoy 
a  twenty-mile  horseback  ride  over  the  hills  this 
morning!  I  wonder  where  I  could  hire  a 
horse  and  if  any  of  the  other  girls  ride." 

"  Why !  you  wouldn't  cut  your  recitations 
the  very  first  day,  would  you,  Jean?  " 

"  No,  I  suppose  not,  but  I'd  like  to  mighty 
•well.  Don't  be  surprised  at  anything  I  ever 
do.  Sometimes  I  fear  I  can't  stand  this  living 
by  rules  and  regulations.  I've  always  done 
just  what  I  wanted  to  and  when  I  wanted  to, 
and  I  shall  probably  forget  to  ask  permission 
to  do  things,  especially  of  other  girls.  I'm 
not  so  sure  that  I  approve  of  student  govern- 
ment." 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     55 

"  Why,  it  seems  to  me  the  fairest  way,  and 
I'm  sure  you  will  like  it  after  you  become  used 
to  it.  Now  that  I've  finished  unpacking  I 
think  I'll  just  write  a  few  lines  to  Brother,  for 
he'll  be  waiting  very  impatiently  for  my  first 
letter.  Can't  you  go  to  sleep  again?" 

"No,  I  think  I'll  write  letters,  too.  I 
haven't  had  a  minute  before,  and  I  promised 
Tom  and  father  faithfully  that  I'd  write  to 
them."  And  soon  the  two  girls  were  writing 
as  though  their  life  depended  upon  it,  and  did 
not  stop  until  the  rising  bell  sounded.  Eliza- 
beth was  as  startled  as  Jean  had  been  on  the 
previous  morning,  but  it  did  not  take  long  to 
explain  it  to  her.  Soon  she  started  down- 
stairs for  her  duties  in  the  dining-room,  but 
hesitated  a  little  and  said,  "  Jean,  may  I  go  to 
chapel  with  you  this  morning?" 

"  Yes,  we  freshmen  in  the  house  agreed  last 
night  to  go  together;  our  seats  are  to  be  in 
the  right  aisle  directly  back  of  the  sophs. 
They  say  ours  is  the  largest  entering  class  on 
record,  so  some  of  us  may  have  to  sit  in  the 
annex.  Let's  go  by  a  quarter-past  eight,  any- 
way, so  as  to  be  in  the  main  chapel.  After 


56       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

chapel  exercises  I'll  take  you  to  the  office  and 
help  you  with  your  registration." 

When  the  seven  freshmen  from  Merton 
walked  up  to  chapel,  six  of  them  felt  very 
green  indeed,  but  Jean  held  her  head  high 
and  displayed  her  usual  composure.  But 
when  they  took  their  places  with  the  other 
three  classes  and  at  a  given  signal  rose  while 
the  hundred  or  so  seniors  in  cap  and  gown 
marched  slowly  down  the  center  aisle  to  their 
seats  on  the  left,  Jean  felt  for  the  first  time 
the  insignificance  of  a  freshman  and  won- 
dered just  how  it  would  seem  to  be  a  senior. 

Miss  Emerson  welcomed  the  incoming  class 
in  such  a  way  that  Jean  felt  drawn  to  her  at 
once.  She  was  not  at  all  what  she  had  pic- 
tured a  college  president  to  be,  and  there  was 
something  so  sweet  and  lovable  about  her  that 
Jean  thought  she  came  nearer  to  the  mother 
she  had  always  pictured  to  herself  than  any- 
body else  she  had  ever  seen.  Most  of  the  fac- 
ulty seats  were  occupied,  and  Jean  noticed  that 
many  of  the  professors  were  young  and  good- 
looking  in  spite  of  their  degrees  and  reputed 
knowledge. 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     57 

After  chapel  Jean  and  Elizabeth  hastened 
to  the  registrar's  office  and  Elizabeth  was  en- 
rolled as  a  freshman.  Just  as  they  were  leav- 
ing the  building  two  seniors  in  cap  and  gown 
stopped  them  and  one  of  them  said,  "  This  is 
Miss  Cabot  and  her  room-mate,  Miss  Fair- 
fax, is  it  not?  I  am  Miss  Wright  and  this  is 
Miss  Farnsworth.  We  would  like  to  invite 
you  to  be  our  special  guests  at  the  senior  re- 
ception to  the  freshmen  and  faculty  on  a  week 
from  Monday  evening  in  the  Gym.  You  live 
in  Merton,  I  believe?  We  will  call  for  you 
there  at  about  half-past  eight." 

The  two  freshmen  were  glad  to  accept  the 
invitation,  and  after  a  few  general  remarks 
about  recitations  the  seniors  hurried  away. 

"Jean,  did  you  notice  the  little  star-shaped 
pins  both  of  those  seniors  wore  on  their  shirt- 
waists? What  are  they  for?" 

"  I  suppose  they  must  be  their  society  pins. 
Societies  are  like  fraternities  in  the  men's  col- 
leges. They  are  secret  organizations,  and 
about  twenty-five  girls  belong  to  each  one.  I 
don't  know  much  about  them  except  what  Tom 
told  me." 


58        JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Oh,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  I  should  like  to  join 
one,  wouldn't  you?" 

"  I  guess  it  isn't  for  us  to  say,  Elizabeth. 
You  see,  the  girls  are  very  particular  whom 
they  ask,  and  only  a  few  are  chosen  from  each 
class." 

"  Oh,  you'll  be  chosen,  Jean ;  you  needn't 
worry  about  that." 

"I'm  not  so  sure  about  it.  I  suppose  it 
will  soon  be  time  for  mathematics.  O  dear, 
how  I  dread  it!  Your  division  doesn't  meet 
to-day,  does  it?  You  ought  to  be  thankful  for 
that.  I'm  going  upstairs  now  to  see  where 
Room  21  is.  Good-by;  see  you  later." 

At  the  top  of  the  stairs  she  met  Marjorie 
Remington,  who  stopped  her.  "  Oh,  Miss 
Cabot,  have  you  received  your  invitation  to 
the  freshman  reception  yet?  " 

"  Yes,  Miss  Wright  and  Miss  Farnsworth 
just  stopped  Elizabeth  and  me  downstairs  and 
invited  us  to  go  with  them." 

"  Oh,  you  should  feel  much  honored,  for 
they  are  two  of  the  most  popular  girls  in  the 
senior  class,  and  Miss  Wright  is  class  presi- 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     59 

dent.  But  I  think  the  reception  is  an  awful 
bore,  just  standing  around  and  meeting  a  lot 
of  girls  and  faculty  you  don't  care  anything 
about,  and  dancing  in  between  times.  Still 
a  freshman  makes  a  big  mistake  to  cut  it,  and 
I  advise  you  to  go. 

"  What's  your  first  recitation  —  can  I  take 
you  to  the  class  room?  There's  the  bell  now. 
But  wait  a  minute.  Here  comes  a  girl  I  want 
you  to  meet.  It's  Lill  Spalding,  sophomore 
basket-ball  captain  and  one  of  the  nicest  girls 
in  North  Hall.  I've  invited  her  in  town  with 
us  to-morrow." 

The  three  girls  became  so  interested  in  their 
plans  for  the  following  day  that  Mathematics 
I.  was  almost  forgotten,  and  when  Marjorie 
remembered  she  was  to  show  Jean  the  room  it 
was  fully  five  minutes  after  the  hour. 

Stopping  before  a  door  marked  "21  "  Mar- 
jorie said,  "  Here  it  is,  and  Miss  Hooper  is  in 
charge.  Oh,  she's  fierce;  I  pity  you.  I  had 
Miss  Baldwin,  who's  a  regular  cinch.  I'll 
meet  you  here  at  the  end  of  the  hour  if  you 
like." 


60       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

As  Jean  entered  the  room  Miss  Hooper  was 
just  reading  the  class  list  and  she  heard  "  Miss 
Cabot"  ring  out  distinctly  in  the  stillness  of 
the  large  room. 

"  Here,"  said  Jean,  and  she  sank  into  the 
only  vacant  chair  in  the  front  row  directly  in 
front  of  the  desk. 

Miss  Hooper  paused,  looked  up  quickly 
from  her  class  book  and  said  sharply,  "  Five 
minutes  late.  A  very  bad  beginning,  Miss 
Cabot;  remember  hereafter,  please,  that  this 
class  meets  promptly  at  nine  o'clock." 

It  was  on  Jean's  tongue  to  say  that  she  had 
lost  her  way,  but  something  restrained  her. 
Miss  Hooper  explained  that  the  work  of  the 
year  would  be  divided  into  three  parts,  algebra 
the  first  third  of  the  year,  geometry  the  second, 
and  trigonometry  the  last.  The  class  were  to 
use  Wells's  College  Algebra,  which  they  could 
buy  at  the  college  book-store.  The  first  les- 
son would  be  the  problems  on  page  47. 

"And  now,  class,  let  us  spend  the  rest  of 
the  hour  reviewing  a  little.  Miss  Cabot,  you 
may  explain  what  is  meant  by  the  'binomial 
theorem.'  " 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     61 

Poor  Jean  tried  to  collect  her  scattered 
senses  enough  to  answer  the  question.  She 
remembered  there  was  such  a  thing  as  this 
binomial  theorem,  but  what  it  was  she  could 
not  have  told  had  her  life  depended  upon  it. 
After  waiting  as  long  as  she  dared  she  an- 
swered in  a  low  voice,  "  I  do  not  know." 
Miss  Hooper  looked  annoyed  and  repeated  the 
question  to  Miss  Caldow,  next  on  the  list,  who, 
to  Jean's  disgust,  jumped  on  her  feet  and  re- 
cited glibly  and  entirely  to  Miss  Hooper's  sat- 
isfaction. 

"  Very  well  done,  Miss  Caldow.  I  see  no 
reason  why  the  entire  class  should  not  be  per- 
fectly familiar  with  the  theorem.  No  one  can 
expect  to  do  any  kind  of  work  in  advanced 
algebra  unless  she  has  a  thorough  foundation 
in  the  elementary  work.  Miss  Cabot,  you  will 
please  look  up  the  binomial  theorem  and  be 
prepared  to  recite  it  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
class." 

Jean  thought  the  hour  would  never  end,  but 
when  at  last  the  class  was  excused  she  rushed 
from  the  room  almost  into  the  arms  of  Mar- 
jorie  Remington  who  was  waiting  for  her 


62       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

just  outside  the  door.  "  Well,  honey,  how  did 
Mathematics  I.  go  ?  " 

"  Terribly.  I  never  want  to  see  Miss 
Hooper  again  and  I'll  not  take  her  old  mathe- 
matics course  another  day.  I  don't  know  any- 
thing about  algebra,  and  she  pounced  on  me 
first  one  to  explain  the  binomial  theorem,  and 
because  I  didn't  know  it  she  insulted  me  before 
the  whole  class." 

"Just  like  her.  Isn't  she  the  most  sarcas- 
tic person  you  ever  knew  ?  She  can  say  more 
hateful  things  in  fifteen  minutes  than  any  one 
I  know.  Why  don't  you  drop  mathematics 
and  take  something  else  in  its  place  ?  You  can 
take  it  up  again  next  year." 

"  Next  year,  indeed ;  thank  goodness  I'll  be 
far  away  from  Ashton  College  by  that  time! 
One  year's  enough  for  me.  But  tell  me,  can 
I  really  drop  mathematics?" 

"  Sure  you  can.  I  dropped  Latin  the  first 
day  last  year  and  I'm  just  beginning  it  again, 
but  I  doubt  if  I  ever  pass  it.  All  you've  got 
to  do  is  to  go  down  to  the  office  and  give  some 
reasonable  excuse  for  dropping  mathematics 
and  offer  something  else  in  its  place.  They 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     63 

don't  care  when  you  take  the  required  subjects 
as  long  as  you  finish  them  before  senior  year." 

"  But  what  can  I  take  instead  of  mathemat- 
ics?" 

"  Miss  Gushing  has  a  fine  course  in  philoso- 
phy first  half-year,  and  psychology  second  half. 
It's  a  lecture  course,  only  her  exams  are  stiff, 
but  if  you  read  up  in  her  book  in  the  library 
you'll  get  by  all  right.  If  you're  only  going 
to  be  here  one  year  you  don't  care  much  for 
making  records,  do  you?" 

"  No.  Leave  that  to  my  room-mate,  she's 
out  for  real  study  and  nothing  else.  Aren't  we 
the  great  combination  ?  But  still  there's  some- 
thing about  her  I  like ;  and  I  pity  her,  too,  for 
she's  had  a  hard  time  all  her  life.  I  nearly 
forgot,  I  have  a  German  recitation  now,  so 
I'll  have  to  leave  the  mathematics  proposition 
until  later." 

German  was  delightful,  as  Fraulein  Weimer 
in  her  broken  English  explained  the  work  of 
the  year  and  then  talked  to  the  class  in  Ger- 
man, telling  them  stories  and  quoting  poems. 
Jean  felt  a  little  calmer  as  she  left  the  room, 
but  with  the  memory  of  her  first  recitation  still 


64       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

burning  in  her  mind  she  hurried  to  the  office. 
She  explained  to  the  secretary  that  she  felt  so 
poorly  prepared  in  mathematics  that  she  wished 
to  leave  that  work  until  another  year  and  take 
philosophy  in  its  place.  She  understood  that 
mathematics,  although  a  required  subject, 
could  be  taken  any  one  of  the  first  three  years. 
She  was  given  permission  to  do  as  she  wished, 
and  hastened  to  Miss  Cushing's  room  to  make 
further  arrangements.  In  the  hall  she  met 
Miss  Hooper,  who  stopped  her  and  said,  "  Am 
I  right  in  understanding  that  Miss  Anna  Mait- 
landt  is  your  cousin?  Do  tell  me  where  she 
is  and  what  she  is  going  to  do  this  year.  I 
have  wanted  to  know  very  much,  but  have  not 
heard  from  her  all  summer.." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Jean,  "  Miss  Maitlandt  is 
my  cousin  and  she  was  out  here  on  Wednesday 
and  Thursday,  but  was  obliged  to  return  to 
Framington  early  because  she  is  to  enter  the 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital  the  first  of 
October  to  begin  a  three-years'  training  course. 
She  was  abroad  all  summer  and  only  returned 
last  week,  so  she  has  a  great  deal  to  do  in  a 
short  time." 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     65 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry  not  to  have  seen  her, 
for  I  always  enjoyed  her  so  much.  What  does 
she  mean  by  burying  herself  in  a  hospital? 
She's  altogether  too  brilliant  for  that."  Just 
then  some  one  came  up  to  ask  Miss  Hooper  a 
question  and  as  she  excused  herself  Jean 
passed  on,  muttering  to  herself,  "  Horrid  old 
thing!  I  suppose  she  wants  to  impress  upon 
me  how  brilliant  my  cousin  was  here.  Wait 
till  she  misses  me  in  mathematics  on  Monday 
and  perhaps  she'll  realize  she  can't  make  her 
cutting,  sarcastic  remarks  to  every  freshman 
in  college." 

The  days  were  full  and  happy  ones,  and 
Monday  night  arrived  with  the  annual  fresh- 
man reception.  After  supper  Marjorie  Rem- 
ington went  upstairs  with  Jean  and  offered  to 
help  her  dress.  "  What  shall  I  wear,  Mar- 
jorie? "  said  Jean. 

"  All  your  dresses  are  such  perfect  dreams 
I  don't  know  which  one  I  like  the  best.  But 
let  me  have  another  look  at  them.  Dangerous 
business,  though,  letting  me  see  them,  for  I 
may  be  tempted  to  borrow  some  of  them  one 
of  these  days.  Now,  after  all,  I  think  this 


66       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

figured  chiffon  is  the  best  for  to-night,  it's  so 
different  from  anything  I  have  ever  seen.  I'm 
crazy  to  see  you  in  it." 

It  did  not  take  long  for  Jean  to  do  her  hair 
and  get  into  the  chiffon  dress.  It  was  a  pe- 
culiar chiffon,  a  light  pink  background  shot 
with  black  and  pink  roses  made  up  over  a  soft 
pink  silk  lining.  The  dress  was  low  and 
showed  off  to  advantage  Jean's  firm  white 
throat  and  neck,  and  the  sleeves  came  just 
above  her  elbows.  The  skirt  reached  only  to 
her  ankles  and  her  stockings  and  slippers  were 
of  a  delicate  pink.  Around  her  neck  on  a 
narrow  band  of  black  velvet  was  a  small  dia- 
mond star  which  sparkled  with  wonderful  bril- 
liancy. "There,  will  I  do?"  and  she  danced 
over  gayly  to  Marjorie,  who  lay  on  the  couch 
as  though  exhausted  after  her  labors. 

"Do?  Why  you  are  the  most  wonderful 
creature  I've  ever  seen !  You'll  take  everybody 
by  storm.  Wait  till  Jack  sees  you.  I'm  going 
to  make  him  invite  us  out  to  his  frat's  first 
dance.  You  see,  Jack's  at  Harvard  and 
knows  all  the  big  men  in  his  class.  I  have  the 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     67 

best  times  in  the  world  whenever  I  can  get  out 
there  for  anything.  The  only  trouble  is  it's 
such  awful  hard  work  getting  off  the  hill  for 
the  night.  One  of  my  aunts  lives  in  Newton 
and  she's  perfectly  willing  to  chaperon  me  or 
let  me  stay  at  her  house  all  night,  but  she 
travels  so  much  of  the  time  that  she's  always 
away  when  I  want  her  most.  I  hate  taking 
one  of  the  faculty  with  me,  for  they're  such 
awful  sticks.  I  don't  see  any  need  of  chap- 
erons anyway,  but  they'd  make  an  awful  fuss 
out  here  if  a  girl  went  anywhere  without 
them." 

Just  then  the  door  opened  and  a  cheery  voice 
began,  "  Have  you  started  dressing  yet  ?  "  but 
when  the  eyes  of  the  speaker  fell  on  the  vision 
of  loveliness  before  her  she  stopped  short  and 
just  gazed. 

Miss  Remington  arose,  saying,  "  I  guess  it's 
time  for  me  to  go,  I'm  not  needed  any  longer. 
Hope  you'll  have  a  good  time,  Miss  Cabot," 
and  she  brushed  by  Elizabeth  and  banged  the 
door  after  her. 

"  Oh,    Jean,   have   I    interrupted   you  ?    I 


68       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

didn't  mean  to.  Miss  Remington  seems  to 
have  taken  a  violent  dislike  to  me.  What 
have  I  done  to  her?  " 

"  Nothing,  Elizabeth ;  she  doesn't  mean  any- 
thing, but  she's  rather  brusque  at  times,  I 
guess." 

"  How  beautiful  you  look,  Jean,  but  I  can't 
go  with  you.  I  haven't  anything  except  my 
graduation  dress  and  you'll  be  ashamed  of  me 
in  that." 

"  Nonsense,  child ;  let  me  help  you  dress. 
You'll  be  too  sweet  for  words  in  that  dainty 
white  muslin  I  saw  hanging  in  your  closet. 
Let  me  do  your  hair  low  and  tuck  this  rose 
at  one  side ;  it  will  bring  out  the  color  in  your 
cheeks.  And  I've  a  coral  pink  sash  I'm  going 
to  drape  around  your  waist  and  with  those 
coral  pink  beads  father  gave  me  just  before 
I  started  you'll  be  a  symphony  in  white  and 
pink." 

Indeed  she  did  look  sweet  in  her  simple 
white  gown  and  excitement  made  her  big  eyes 
sparkle  more  than  was  their  wont.  "  Do  you 
know,  Jean,  I've  never  been  to  a  real  big  re- 
ception like  this  before.  I  can't  dance,  but  I 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     69 

shall  enjoy  just  sitting  and  watching  the 
others.  Sometime  I  hope  to  learn  if  I  ever 
have  the  time.  It's  only  eight  now,  we  have 
half  an  hour  before  the  girls  will  come  for  us. 
Let's  read  over  some  German.  I  haven't  quite 
finished  the  assignment." 

"  Not  to-night,  Elizabeth.  I'm  not  in  the 
mood  for  studying.  Perhaps  I'll  get  up  early 
in  the  morning  and  read  over  a  little  with  you. 
I  made  a  good  recitation  to-day  and  that  ought 
to  do  for  a  while.  I'm  going  over  in  Mar- 
jorie's  room;  you  can  call  me  when  the  girls 
arrive."  Elizabeth  sat  down  at  her  desk  to 
study  alone,  a  little  disappointed  in  Jean,  for 
she  knew  she  had  been  playing  tennis  all  the 
afternoon  and  had  made  no  preparation  for 
the  next  day.  After  she  had  read  about  three 
pages  a  maid  announced  the  arrival  of  their 
escorts,  so  she  called  Jean  and  the  two  girls 
hastened  down  the  stairs. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  reach  the  Gymnasium, 
which  was  ablaze  with  lights.  As  they  en- 
tered the  main  hall  they  paused  to  survey  the 
scene  of  beauty  before  them.  The  massive 
building  was  transformed  into  a  vast  autumn 


7o       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

out-of-doors,  for  golden  rod  and  purple  asters 
and  bright-colored  leaves  were  everywhere. 
The  orchestra  was  concealed  at  one  end  of 
the  hall,  and  played  softly  as  the  seniors  intro- 
duced their  guests  to  each  other  and  to  the 
faculty. 

Jean  and  Elizabeth  were  given  dance-orders, 
but  Elizabeth  timidly  said,  "  I  don't  dance, 
Miss  Farnsworth." 

"  That  doesn't  make  a  particle  of  difference, 
dear;  lots  of  the  girls  don't,  and  perhaps  you'd 
like  to  keep  the  dance-order  as  a  souvenir  for 
your  memorabilia,  for  of  course  you  will  have 
one ;  all  freshmen  do.  You  will  have  partners 
just  the  same  for  all  the  dances  and  get  ac- 
quainted just  as  quickly  as  though  you  were  on 
the  floor  dancing.  You  must  learn  to  dance 
as  soon  as  possible,  though,  for  it  means  so 
many  good  times  here.  Now  let  us  meet  the 
faculty." 

Jean  felt  a  little  dismayed  at  the  thought  of 
meeting  Miss  Hooper,  but  she  soon  found  her- 
self shaking  hands  with  her  and  heard  her  say, 
"  Later  in  the  evening,  Miss  Cabot,  I  hope  I 
may  have  the  pleasure  of  eating  an  ice  with 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     71 

you  in  the  faculty  alcove.  Can  you  spare  me 
a  few  moments  ?  " 

Jean  answered  that  she  would  be  very  pleased 
to,  although  she  felt  she  was  in  for  an  explana^ 
tion  of  her  non-appearance  in  the  mathematics 
class,  and  dreaded  it 

Every  member  of  the  faculty  seemed  to  be 
particularly  interested  in  every  freshman  who 
was  introduced  to  her  and  had  something 
pleasant  to  say  to  them  all.  They  seemed  to 
have  entirely  forgotten  their  mannerisms  and 
the  severity  of  the  class  rooms.  Jean  looked 
long  and  earnestly  at  Miss  Emerson  and  wished 
she  might  stand  and  talk  to  her  indefinitely, 
but  the  long  line  of  waiting  freshmen  pushed 
her  quickly  along,  and  she  determined  to  find 
time  later  in  the  evening  to  ask  her  a  few 
questions. 

Before  long  the  dancing  began  and  Jean 
found  herself  passed  on  from  one  girl  to  an- 
other; some  who  danced  well  and  some  who 
did  not;  some  who  did  nothing  but  ask  ques- 
tions ;  some  who  persisted  in  telling  their  whole 
family  history  in  five  minutes ;  some  tall,  some 
short,  some  handsome,  some  homely,  but  all 


72       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

college  girls  filled  with  the  spirit  of  good  fel- 
lowship. Once  or  twice  she  rushed  over  to 
where  Elizabeth  was  sitting  with  whom  she 
had  deposited  her  gloves,  fan,  handkerchief 
and  dance-order,  and  usually  found  her  silently 
listening  to  the  pearls  of  wisdom  which  fell 
from  the  lips  of  the  senior  sitting  beside  her. 

About  half-past  ten  Elizabeth  said  to  her, 
"Jean,  I  have  just  been  talking  with  Miss 
Hooper  and  she  wishes  to  know  if  you  will 
look  for  her  in  the  faculty  alcove  after  the  next 
dance." 

Jean  was  tempted  to  ignore  the  invitation 
and  all  through  the  next  two-step  turned  the 
matter  over  and  over  in  her  mind  and  was  so 
absorbed  that  her  partner  wondered  what  the 
other  girls  had  found  so  attractive  in  this  good- 
looking  freshman  who  apparently  could  not 
talk.  However,  when  the  music  stopped  Jean 
said  very  casually,  "  Will  you  please  tell  me 
where  the  faculty  alcove  is  ?  "  and  on  being 
shown  she  very  slowly  approached  the  corner. 
The  dim  lights  revealed  Miss  Hooper  among 
a  pile  of  cushions.  She  wondered  how  she 
could  ever  talk  to  her  and  what  she  should 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     73 

say.  When  Miss  Hooper  perceived  her  she 
called  out,  "  Oh,  Miss  Cabot,  come  right  in. 
I  have  been  waiting  for  you  and  hoping  Miss 
Fairfax  would  not  forget  to  deliver  my  mes- 
sage. Make  yourself  comfortable  here  while 
we  enjoy  these  delicious  ices.  First,  I  want 
to  talk  to  you  about  your  charming  cousin. 
We  were  interrupted  the  other  day  before  you 
had  told  me  half  I  wanted  to  know." 

Just  then  every  light  in  the  Gymnasium  went 
out  and  left  the  place  in  total  darkness  and  a 
strong  chorus  burst  into  song. 

"  Oh,    you    green    freshmen,    green    freshmen,    green 

freshmen ; 

Oh,  you  green  freshmen,  come  list  to  our  song. 
We're  going  to  haze  you,  to  haze  you,  to  haze  you; 
We're  going  to  haze  you  before  very  long." 

Over  and  over  again  they  sang  the  lines, 
louder  and  louder  each  time.  Red-fire  burned 
outside  the  building  and  groups  of  girls  with 
their  hands  joined  danced  wildly  around  the 
red  lights. 

"  It's  the  sophomores,"  said  Miss  Hooper ; 
"  every  year  they  try  to  break  up  the  fresh- 
man reception.  It  has  become  a  tradition,  but 


74       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

one  I  believe  should  be  abolished,"  and  she 
slipped  out  into  the  main  hall.  The  seniors 
found  it  was  impossible  to  turn  on  the  elec- 
tricity, but  hurried  here  and  there  and  bor- 
rowed enough  lanterns  from  obliging  janitors 
to  light  the  Gymnasium  dimly.  The  music 
continued  and  the  girls  danced  as  though  noth- 
ing had  happened  and  thought  it  all  the  more 
fun  to  disappoint  the  sophs,  who  imagined  the 
dance  would  be  given  up  when  the  lights  gave 
out.  Partners  had  claimed  Jean,  and  the 
dreaded  interview  with  Miss  Hooper  ended 
almost  where  it  had  begun.  At  length  the 
dancing  stopped  and  after  the  good  nights  had 
been  said  Jean  and  Elizabeth  and  the  two 
seniors  wended  their  way  homeward. 

"  What  a  mean  thing  it  was  to  break  up 
your  reception,"  said  Elizabeth  to  Miss  Farns- 
worth. 

"  Oh,  it  wasn't  wholly  unexpected,"  she  re- 
plied ;  "  there  is  always  great  rivalry  between 
the  two  lower  classes  and  one  never  can  tell 
when  it  will  break  out.  You'll  find  this  is 
only  the  beginning.  Be  on  the  watch,  but  take 
everything  that's  done  in  good  spirit,  for  you 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     75 

must  remember  you'll  be  sophs  next  year  and 
can  pay  it  all  back  on  the  next  entering  class." 
Soon  they  reached  Merton  Hall  and  found 
other  freshmen  saying  good  night  to  their  es- 
corts. Soon  the  great  outer  door  was  closed 
and  the  weary  freshmen  started  upstairs. 
When  Elizabeth  and  Jean  reached  45  they 
found  the  door  locked  and  on  it  a  piece  of  paper 
which  they  tore  down  and  carried  over  to  the 
hall  light  to  read.  These  words  met  their  as- 
tonished gaze : 

"Oh,    you    green    freshmen,    green    freshmen,    green 

freshmen, 

Oh,  you  green  freshmen,  pray  don't  try  your  door. 
We'll  give  you  a  mattress,  a  mattress,  a  mattress, 
We'll  give  you  a  mattress,  to  sleep  on  the  floor. 

"Well,  I  must  say  I  think  this  is  carrying 
things  altogether  too  far,"  said  Jean  indig- 
nantly. "  Who  ever  heard  of  sleeping  on  the 
hall  floor?" 

By  this  time  the  other  freshmen  had  joined 
them,  reporting  similar  experiences  at  their 
rooms.  One  girl  came  down  from  the  fifth 
floor,  whispering,  "  Isn't  this  the  limit !  In 
front  of  my  door  is  a  double  mattress  spread 


76       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

on  the  floor  with  a  blanket  or  two  over  it. 
Come  upstairs,  all  of  you  and  let's  make  our- 
selves as  comfortable  as  we  can  and  to- 
morrow we'll  begin  to  plan  our  revenge  on  the 
sophs." 

Jean  was  the  most  reluctant  to  go,  and  as 
she  followed  the  others  down  the  hall  she 
cast  one  look  over  at  47  and  said,  "  And  to 
think  she  pretended  to  be  my  friend !  "  Then 
an  idea  seemed  to  come  to  her  and  she  said, 
"Wait  a  minute  girls;  of  course  some  of  the 
seniors  are  up,  so  we  can  put  our  good 
clothes  in  their  rooms  and  borrow  some 
kimonas.  But  even  if  they  want  us  to  sleep 
in  their  rooms  let's  not  accept  their  invita- 
tions. Let's  drag  that  mattress  down  from 
fifth  and  put  in  front  of  some  soph's  room, 
say  Marjorie  Remington's,  as  close  as  possi- 
ble to  the  door  and  give  her  a  big  surprise 
when  she  tries  to  walk  out  to-morrow  morn- 
ing." 

The  girls  laughed  at  the  thought  of  the 
joke  and  hurried  to  the  rooms  of  the  seniors 
to  tell  them  what  the  sophs  had  done  and  to 
ask  them  for  help  in  carrying  out  Jean's 


THE  FRESHMAN  RECEPTION     77 

bright  suggestions.  Before  long  they  had 
carried  down  everything  the  sophs  had  left 
them  on  fifth  floor  to  47  and  worked  so  care- 
fully that  no  one  heard  them.  Then  the  seven 
girls  lay  down  on  the  mattress  very  near  to- 
gether to  be  sure,  and  were  soon  asleep  for- 
getting the  cares  of  their  little  world. 


CHAPTER  V 

INITIATION 

IT  did  not  take  very  long  for  Jean  and  Eliz- 
abeth to  find  out  a  great  deal  about  the  se- 
cret societies  at  Ashton,  much  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  one  and  the  keen  disappointment 
of  the  other.  There  were  five  in  all,  the 
Beta  Mu,  the  Kappa  Alpha,  the  Sigma  Delta, 
the  Phi  Beta,  and  the  Gamma  Chi.  Each 
had  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  members, 
chosen  from  the  four  classes;  each  had  its 
club  room  and  its  society  pin,  which  was 
always  in  evidence  on  the  left  side  of  the 
girls'  waists.  The  first  days  of  college  the 
society  was  in  the  background  as  college  came 
first  and  then  class,  but  as  matters  became 
adjusted  and  the  girls  settled  down  to  the 
routine  of  regular  life,  this  factor  came  into 
evidence. 

It  was  pretty  generally  conceded  that  the 
two     most     desirable     societies     were     the 
78 


INITIATION  79 

Gamma  Chi  and  the  Sigma  Delta,  and  both 
were  eager  to  obtain  Jean  Cabot  as  one  of 
their  members.  However,  the  membership 
of  the  two  was  entirely  different;  to  the 
former  belonged  Peggy  Allison,  Natalie  Law- 
ton,  Dorothy  Wright  and  Frances  Farnsworth, 
girls  with  a  serious  purpose  in  college  but  still 
finding  time  for  plenty  of  fun;  to  the  latter 
belonged  Midge  Remington,  Lill  Spalding, 
Lena  Jameson  and  Gerry  Fairbanks,  girls  with 
plenty  of  money  and  clothes  and  a  desire  for 
athletic  honors  and  good  times  foremost,  with 
scholastic  efforts  in  the  background. 

Rushing  had  begun  early,  and  although  at 
first  Jean  had  not  realized  why  so  many  girls 
had  been  so  kind  to  her,  it  flashed  over  her 
all  of  a  sudden  that  it  had  all  been  with  the 
purpose  of  finally  winning  her  to  their  par- 
ticular society.  Nothing  definite  had  been 
said,  and  she  had  not  been  invited  to  join  one 
or  the  other  but  she  felt  that  it  was  only  a 
matter  of  time.  She  had  been  to  walk,  to 
drive,  to  the  theater,  to  lunch,  rowing  on  the 
lake;  had  played  tennis  with  the  best  players 
college  afforded,  had  been  to  "  hoodangs," 


8o       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

first  in  one  girl's  room  and  then  in  another's, 
to  tea  at  the  Inn,  home  for  week-ends  with 
the  girls  who  lived  near  by  —  one  pleasant 
thing  after  another  until  she  began  to  tire  of 
so  much  attention  and  decided  to  accept  no 
more  invitations  until  she  had  had  a  breath- 
ing spell.  One  thing  had  troubled  her  at 
first,  but  she  soon  became  used  to  the  fact 
that  Elizabeth  had  not  been  invited  to  many 
of  the  good  times  and  often  watched  her 
depart  with  a  look  upon  her  face  which 
seemed  to  say,  "  Why  does  she  have  every- 
thing and  I  nothing?  " 

One  Saturday  towards  the  end  of  October 
both  girls  had  been  invited  down  to  Peggy 
Allison's  room  to  a  Gamma  Chi  "  hoodang  " 
or  rushing-party.  It  was  one  of  the  few  in- 
vitations in  which  Elizabeth  was  included  and 
she  had  counted  on  it  for  many  days.  At 
noon  she  said  to  Jean,  "  What  time  shall  we 
go  to  Miss  Allison's  room  to-night?  " 

"  Oh,  I'm  sorry  Elizabeth,  but  you'll  have 
to  go  with  one  of  the  other  girls  for  I've 
promised  to  walk  with  Marjorie  and  Lill 
Spalding  to  Tramp's  Rock  this  afternoon  and 


INITIATION  81 

have  tea  at  the  Inn  on  our  return.  I'll  be 
back  about  eight  or  thereabouts  and  go 
directly  to  Peggy's  room  so  I'll  see  you  there 
surely.  What  are  you  going  to  do  this  after- 
noon?" 

"  I  don't  know  now,  I  had  hoped  that  you 
and  I  could  do  something;  we  haven't  had  a 
single  Saturday  afternoon  together  yet. 
Isn't  the  college  library  open  Saturday  after- 
noons and  evenings?  Perhaps  I'll  go  over 
and  read  a  little  while  the  last  part  of  the 
afternoon." 

Jean  and  her  friends  enjoyed  every  minute 
of  the  afternoon  and  just  before  they  were 
ready  to  start  back  home  Marjorie  said  to 
Lill,  "  I'm  going  to  take  Jean  round  the  other 
side  of  the  Rock  for  a  few  moments;  you  can 
sit  and  gaze  at  the  clouds  until  we  come  back 
again  if  you  want  to." 

After  they  had  walked  a  few  moments 
Marjorie  said,  "  Jean,  I've  been  appointed  a 
committee  of  one  to  invite  you  to  become  a 
member  of  Sigma  Delta  society.  We  have 
some  of  the  best  girls  in  college  among  our 
members  as  you  have  had  an  opportunity  to 


82       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

see  for  yourself.  You  know  what  our  girls 
have  done  in  athletics  and  in  social  activities 
and  we  want  you  to  be  one  of  us.  Here  is 
a  bow  of  blue  ribbon  and  if  you  decide  to 
become  a  member  of  Sigma  Belt  you  will 
wear  this  ribbon  Monday  to  chapel  and  to 
all  your  recitations  during  the  day.  Then 
all  the  other  girls  will  see  what  you  have 
chosen  and  from  then  on  you  will  be  ours 
and  they  will  let  you  alone.  I'm  pretty  sure 
you've  made  up  your  mind  already,  but  I 
can't  ask  you  to  commit  yourself  until  Mon- 
day. Now  we'll  go  back  for  Lill  and  then 
start  for  the  Inn." 

It  was  considerably  after  eight  when  Jean 
knocked  upon  Peggy  Allison's  door  and  at 
the  pleasant  "  Come  in "  entered  the  room 
and  found  herself  the  last  arrival,  for  some 
twenty  upper-class  girls  with  ten  or  twelve 
freshmen  were  packed  closely  in  the  room 
and  the  one  adjoining  which  had  been  loaned 
by  an  accommodating  sophomore. 

"  Why,  where's  your  room-mate,  Miss 
Cabot?  "  sang  out  one  of  the  girls. 


INITIATION  83 

"  Oh,  isn't  she  here  ?  She  said  she  was 
coming,  but  I  haven't  seen  her  since  dinner 
for  I  was  away  all  the  afternoon  and  had 
supper  at  the  Inn.  Didn't  she  wait  on  table? 
I'll  run  upstairs  and  see  if  she's  forgotten 
to  come.  That  hardly  seems  possible, 
though,  for  she  has  been  counting  on  this  so 
long." 

When  Jean  returned  she  reported  that 
Elizabeth  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  although 
her  hat  and  coat  were  on  the  couch  where 
they  had  evidently  been  thrown  in  haste  and 
her  white  party  dress  still  hung  in  the  closet 
in  its  accustomed  place.  "  I'm  going  down- 
stairs to  ask  Mrs.  Thompson  if  she  knows 
whether  Elizabeth  was  at  supper,  or  excused 
for  some  reason."  But  Mrs.  Thompson 
said  that  she  had  been  at  supper  as  usual  and 
she  knew  nothing  further  of  her  whereabouts. 
Next,  Jean  hastened  to  the  register  in  the 
reading-room  and  found  no  record  of  Eliza- 
beth's leaving  the  dormitory.  Perhaps  Mary 
Boynton,  the  general  proctor  of  Merton  for 
student  government,  would  have  some  ex- 


84       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

planation  for  her,  so  she  hurried  to  34,  but 
Miss  Boynton  knew  nothing  about  the  girl 
and  in  despair  she  returned  to  27. 

"Oh,  hasn't  she  come  yet?  I've  been 
everywhere  I  can  think  of  and  nobody  knows 
anything  about  her.  Where  can  she  be  ?  " 

"  Now,  Jean,  calm  yourself,"  said  Natalie, 
"  perhaps  she's  visiting  some  of  the  girls  in 
another  house  and  has  forgotten  all  about  us. 
We'll  wait  until  nine  o'clock  and  then  if  she 
hasn't  put  in  an  appearance  we'll  organize  a 
searching-party.  Come,  girls,  pass  those 
candies  to  Jean  before  they're  all  eaten  up. 
Can't  you  see  she's  waiting  for  them?" 

But  Jean  didn't  seem  to  enjoy  the  candies 
or  the  other  things  which  circulated  round 
about  her.  She  seemed,  somehow,  above  the 
happiness  of  the  occasion  to  see  the  disap- 
pointed look  on  Elizabeth's  face  when  at 
noon  she  had  told  her  she  could  not  go  to 
the  party  with  her,  and  above  the  voices  of 
the  others  she  seemed  to  hear  Elizabeth's 
trembling  voice  saying  that  she  would  spend 
the  half-holiday  in  the  library.  It  had 
seemed  so  ridiculous  to  Jean  then  to  think 


INITIATION  85 

of  spending  unnecessary  time  in  the  library 
among  dry  old  books.  But  perhaps  Elizabeth 
had  gone  to  the  library;  they  could  ask  the 
librarian. 

It  seemed  to  Jean  as  though  nine  o'clock 
would  never  strike,  every  step  in  the  hall 
must  be  Elizabeth's  but  still  she  did  not  come 
and  at  last  Jean  burst  out,  "  Girls,  I'm  sorry 
to  break  up  your  little  party  but  I  can't  stand 
it  another  minute.  I've  just  got  to  do  some- 
thing. Will  two  or  three  of  you  come  with 
me  while  I  get  Mary  Boynton  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  and  with  them  we  can  go  to  all 
the  dormitories  and  ask  if  she  is  in  any  of 
the  girls'  rooms?  It  doesn't  seem  probable, 
for  she  has  hardly  any  friends  outside  of 
Merton,  but  I  think  it's  the  best  thing  to  do. 
Each  of  us  can  take  a  dormitory  and  report 
at  College  Hall.  I'll  go  to  Wellington, 
Peggy  can  take  East,  Natalie,  West,  Miss 
Boynton,  North,  and  Emily  Sanderson,  South. 
Mrs.  Thompson  can  wait  at  College  Hall  so  in 
case  any  of  you  girls  here  at  Merton  see 
Elizabeth  or  hear  anything  about  her  you 
can  tell  her.  I'm  going  down  now  for  Mrs. 


86       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Thompson;  and,  Natalie,  will  you  get  Mary 
Boynton?  Don't  stop  to  change  your  gowns, 
for  we  mustn't  lose  a  minute's  time.  Put  on 
your  sweaters  and  let's  start  at  once." 

It  was  after  ten  o'clock  when  the  little 
group  finally  met  again  at  College  Hall  and 
the  matter  began  to  look  so  serious  that  the 
girls  hardly  knew  what  to  do.  Although  they 
had  searched  the  dormitories  very  carefully 
not  a  trace  could  they  find  of  the  missing  girl. 
Finally  Jean  said,  "  Where  does  Miss  Clark- 
son,  the  librarian,  live  ?  " 

"  Somewhere  off  the  hill,  Jean,"  answered 
Peggy.  "  We  could  find  out  from  some  of 
the  faculty." 

"  No,"  said  Jean,  "  if  she  isn't  on  the  hill 
it  won't  do  any  good  to  try  to  find  her.  I 
wanted  to  ask  her  if  she  remembered  seeing 
Elizabeth  in  the  library  to-day.  I  wonder 
how  we  could  get  into  the  library?  What 
time  does  it  close  on  Saturdays  ?  " 

Mary  Boynton  replied  that  Saturday  even- 
ing was  the  only  one  of  the  week  when  it 
was  open.  She  thought  this  was  until  half- 
past  eight,  and  suggested  that  probably  if  they 


INITIATION  87 

could  find  the  janitor  he  would  let  them  into 
the  building. 

"  But  why  should  you  think  Elizabeth  is  in 
the  library?  Wouldn't  she  go  out  with  the 
others  when  it  closed?"  asked  Mary. 

"Yes,  I  should  think  so,"  said  Jean,  "but 
there's  nowhere  else  to  look  and  if  she  isn't 
there  I  give  up  the  search.  I'm  going  to 
run  over  to  Miss  Emerson's  a  moment  to  ask 
her  how  we  can  get  into  the  library.  You 
people  start  in  that  direction  and  I'll  be  with 
you  in  a  few  moments." 

Jean  fairly  tore  over  the  campus  and  gave 
Miss  Emerson's  bell  a  vigorous  pressing. 
There  were  no  lights  at  the  front  of  the  house 
but  after  a  little  while  Miss  Emerson  herself 
appeared  at  the  door.  "  Why !  good  evening, 
Miss  Cabot,  what  can  I  do  for  you  so  late  at 
night?  Come  right  into  my  study  for  it's  a 
little  chilly  here.  My  maid  has  retired  but 
I  was  looking  over  an  address  I  am  to  give 
next  week  in  Chicago." 

"  Oh,  no,  thank  you,  Miss  Emerson,  I  can't 
sit  down.  My  room-mate,  Elizabeth  Fairfax, 
is  missing  and  we  have  looked  everywhere  for 


88       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

her  but  can't  find  her.  I  want  to  look  in  the 
library  before  we  give  up  the  search  for  the 
last  time  I  saw  her,  this  noon,  she  told  me 
that  she  might  go  down  to  the  library  to 
read.  How  can  I  get  into  the  library  to- 
night?" 

"  Now,  my  dear  child,  do  calm  yourself. 
It  is  rather  late  to  disturb  the  janitor  but  I 
will  take  my  keys  and  go  with  you  and 
probably  we  can  find  the  night-watchman  and 
he  will  assist  us.  Just  step  into  the  hall 
while  I  get  my  coat  and  hat." 

It  seemed  an  interminable  time  to  Jean 
before  Miss  Emerson  returned,  but  at  last 
they  started  out.  Miss  Emerson  talked  con- 
stantly on  subjects  entirely  foreign  to  the 
matter  of  the  lost  girl,  and  Jean  wondered 
how  she  could  possibly  think  of  such  trivial 
things,  much  less  talk  about  them.  When 
they  reached  the  little  group  in  front  of  the 
library  Miss  Emerson  was  the  only  calm 
one  among  them  and  she  quietly  wished  each 
one  a  good-evening  and  then  started  up  the 
library  steps.  With  a  small  electric  bulb 
which  she  held  in  her  hand  she  easily  fitted 


INITIATION  89 

the  key  into  the  lock  and  opened  the  great 
outer  doors.  Then  it  was  an  easy  matter  to 
spring  open  the  inner  doors  and  press  the 
electric  button  which  flooded  the  foyer  with 
brilliant  light.  Calling  the  girls  to  her  she 
said,  "  We  will  take  different  sections  of  the 
building  to  explore,  and  if  one  of  us  dis- 
covers Miss  Fairfax  we  will  let  the  others 
know."  Each  girl  then  took  an  alcove  and 
began  the  search.  Jean  went  straight  to  the 
alcoves  belonging  to  the  history  department. 
Here  she  called  softly,  "  Oh,  Elizabeth,  are 
•you  there  ?  "  but  no  response  came,  and  she 
went  away  down  into  the  last  alcove  calling 
again  and  again  softly,  "  Oh,  Elizabeth, 
Elizabeth."  At  last  she  heard  the  sleepy 
reply,  "What  is  it,  Jean?  Here  I  am." 
And  Jean  switched  on  another  light  and  saw 
her  room-mate  lying  on  the  floor  with  her 
head  on  a  great  book  apparently  as  com- 
fortable as  she  would  have  been  in  her  own 
bed  in  Merton. 

Jean  went  out  into  the  main  corridor  and 
shouted,  "  Oh,  girls  —  Miss  Emerson  — 
come  here!  I've  found  her."  And  then  re- 


90       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

turning  to  Elizabeth  she  said,  "Why,  what 
are  you  doing  here?  We've  been  looking  for 
you  all  over  college,  and  I've  been  nearly 
frightened  to  death  about  you." 

When  Elizabeth  saw  Miss  Emerson  and 
Mrs.  Thompson  and  all  the  girls,  she  looked 
anxiously  from  one  to  the  other  and  said, 
"  Oh,  I  am  very  sorry  to  have  caused  so  much 
trouble,  I  didn't  think  I  was  of  enough  ac- 
count ever  to  be  missed  by  any  one,  least  of 
all  by  you,  Jean." 

"  Oh,  Elizabeth,  how  can  you  say  that  ?  " 
said  Jean  as  she  helped  her  to  arise.  "  Now 
sit  down  here  on  this  chair  and  tell  us  how 
you  happened  to  be  here.  You  didn't  do  it 
on  purpose  did  you,  Elizabeth,  because  I  — " 

But  Elizabeth  interrupted  her  with,  "  Oh, 
Jean,  thank  you  so  much  for  wanting  to  find 
me!  It's  worth  all  the  rest.  I  don't  see  how 
it  could  have  happened  —  unless  when  I  get 
to  reading  history  I  forget  everything  else  in 
the  world.  About  four  o'clock  I  went  into 
the  history  alcove  and  took  down  a  volume 
on  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign  and  began  to 
read.  When  I  was  about  half  way  through 


./RJL/COV 


"  WHY,  WHAT    ARE  YOU  DOING    HERE?      WE'VE    BEEN    LOOKING  FOR 

YOU  ALL  OVER  COLLEGE."— Page  90. 


INITIATION  91 

the  third  chapter,  Betty  Winship,  who  went 
down  with  me,  told  me  it  was  a  quarter  of  six. 
I  knew  I  was  due  at  Merton  at  six  but  I  had 
reached  the  most  interesting  account  of  Eliza- 
beth's education.  I  slipped  a  corner  of  my 
handkerchief  into  the  book  and  put  it  care- 
fully back  on  the  shelf,  deciding  to  go  back 
after  supper  and  just  finish  the  chapter  before 
I  got  ready  for  Peggy's  party. 

"  I  hurried  back  as  soon  as  I  had  eaten 
my  supper  and  began  reading  again  about 
Elizabeth.  I  suppose  I  must  have  forgotten 
everything  else  in  the  world,  for  the  first 
thing  I  knew  every  light  in  the  building  went 
out.  I  called  as  loud  as  I  could  but  no  one 
answered  me,  and  for  a  moment  I  was 
frightened.  It  was  so  dark  I  could  not  find 
the  electric  light  switches  and  the  windows 
were  too  high  even  to  hope  to  reach.  I  made 
up  my  mind  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  stay 
here  until  morning  when  perhaps  I  could  hail 
a  passer-by." 

"  But  Elizabeth,  didn't  you  know  it  was 
Saturday  night  and  the  library  wouldn't  be 
opened  again  till  Monday  morning?"  said 


92       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Jean.  "  Just  think  what  might  have  happened 
if  you  couldn't  have  found  some  one  to  open 
the  door.  You'd  have  almost  starved  in 
there  alone.  I  guess  very  few  of  the  girls 
ever  go  by  the  library  on  Sundays.  Isn't 
it  lucky  we  came  here  to-night?  " 

"  I  didn't  think  about  that.  I  forgot  it  was 
Saturday  and  thought  of  course  it  would  open 
early  the  next  morning.  I  was  tired  and  as 
I  could  find  nothing  else  for  a  pillow  I  took 
the  book  in  my  lap  and  laid  my  head  on  that. 
Of  course  floors  aren't  the  softest  beds  in  the 
world,  but  I  must  have  fallen  asleep,  for  I 
don't  remember  anything  else  until  I  heard 
Jean  calling  to  me.  I'm  so  sorry  to  have 
caused  so  much  worry  and  trouble.  I  didn't 
dream  any  one  would  ever  miss  me,"  and  the 
tears  began  to  trickle  down  her  cheeks. 

Miss  Emerson  put  her  arm  around  Eliza- 
beth and  led  her  out  into  the  foyer,  followed 
by  the  rest  of  the  little  procession.  "  Miss 
Cabot,"  she  said,  "  will  you  please  put  off 
the  lights  and  after  we  are  all  out,  close  the 
door;  it  locks  itself.  Thank  you  very  much." 

Soon    Elizabeth    had    regained    her    usual 


INITIATION  93 

good  spirits  and  walked  up  the  Row  with 
Mary  Boynton  and  Peggy  Allison,  followed 
by  the  others,  with  Jean  and  Miss  Emerson 
in  the  rear.  "Thank  you  so  much,  Miss 
Emerson,  for  coming  with  me  and  helping  us 
to-night,"  said  Jean,  but  Miss  Emerson  re- 
plied, "  I  think  it  is  you  who  ought  to  be 
thanked.  Without  your  good  work  Miss 
Fairfax  would  have  remained  all  night  in 
the  library  and  doubtless  would  have  caught 
a  severe  cold,  to  say  nothing  of  a  nervous 
shock.  She  does  not  look  very  strong,  but 
what  an  interesting  little  room-mate  she  must 
be!" 

Jean  was  thankful  that  they  reached  Miss 
Emerson's  house  just  then  in  time  to  save 
her  the  humiliation  of  having  to  reply  that 
as  yet  she  really  hadn't  had  much  time  to 
find  out  anything  interesting  about  her  room- 
mate. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  reach  Merton  and 
disperse  for  the  night.  As  they  were  going 
upstairs  Peggy  Allison  said,  "  Oh,  Jean,  after 
you  have  taken  Elizabeth  upstairs  would  you 
mind  coming  down  in  my  room  for  just  a 


94       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

moment?"  Jean  replied  that  she  would,  al- 
though she  was  so  tired  that  it  seemed  as 
though  she  could  not  wait  another  moment 
to  get  into  bed.  She  threw  her  things  on  the 
couch,  stumbled  over  her  waste-basket, 
groped  her  way  down  the  stairs  and  knocked 
timidly  at  Peggy's  door. 

"  Come  in,  Jean,"  said  Peggy.  "  Sit  down 
just  for  a  moment  It's  too  bad  our  party 
wasn't  the  success  we  hoped  it  would  be  but 
I  want  to  tell  you  that  I  think  what  you; 
have  done  was  splendid.  We  never  would 
have  found  her  if  it  hadn't  been  for  you. 
But  there's  something  else  I  want  to  tell  you 
to-night.  I  had  intended  to  earlier  in  the 
evening  but  really  I  couldn't  find  an  oppor- 
tunity until  now.  We,  that  is,  the  Gamma 
Chis,  want  you  to  become  one  of  our  mem- 
bers. Monday  is  pledging  day  and  here  is 
a  bow  of  green  ribbon;  if  you  decide  to  join 
us  you  will  wear  this  little  bow  pinned  on  the 
left  side  of  your  shirt-waist  and  that  will 
show  the  other  girls  that  you  belong  to  us. 
Wear  it  to  chapel  in  the  morning  and  to  reci- 
tations all  day.  You  will  not  be  the  only  girl 


INITIATION  95 

with  a  bow  of  colored  ribbon  on,  for  every 
society  will  have  invited  girls  to  do  the  same 
as  I  have  you.  You  know  our  girls;  you've 
met  them  all,  and  by  this  time  know  whether 
you  like  us  or  not.  I've  wanted  you  for  one 
of  our  members  since  the  first  day  I  saw  you 
on  the  train  at  New  York,  but  I  realize  others 
have  desired  you,  too.  We  do  have  good 
times  together,  and  you  won't  make  a  mistake 
if  you  join  Gamma  Chi.  I'll  be  watching  to 
see  you  enter  chapel  Monday  morning  and  I 
hope  we  win.  There,  I  won't  keep  you  an- 
other minute  to-night.  Good  night,  dear. 
Remember,  whichever  way  you  choose,  it 
can't  make  a  particle  of  difference  in  our 
friendship.  We  can  always  be  good  friends 
even  if  we're  not  sisters.  Can  you  see  your 
way  upstairs  ?  The  lights  have  been  out  for 
hours." 

When  Jean  reached  her  room  she  switched 
on  the  light  and  walked  over  to  her  somewhat 
disordered  desk.  She  swept  the  books  and 
papers  off  and  placed  the  two  bows  of  ribbon, 
the  green  and  the  blue,  side  by  side  on  the 
cleared  space  and  contemplated  them  for  a 


96       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

moment.  Her  reverie  was  interrupted  by  a 
knock  at  the  door  and  she  found  Marjorie 
Remington  just  outside. 

"  Let  me  in  for  just  a  moment,"  whispered 
Marjorie ;  "  put  out  your  lights  for  it's  late. 
Tell  me  what  all  this  excitement's  about.  I 
didn't  get  back  from  Lill's  room  till  almost 
ten  and  every  one  was  talking  about  Eliza- 
beth's being  lost  and  all  you  people  out  hunting 
for  her.  Where  did  you  find  her  ?  " 

Jean  related  the  incident  as  briefly  as  pos- 
sible, and  when  she  had  finished  Marjorie 
said,  "  And  you  did  all  that  for  that  insignifi- 
cant little  freshman?  I  thought  you  never 
bothered  your  head  about  her  except  for 
German  translations?  You're  easy,  that's  all 
I've  got  to  say.  I'm  dead  for  sleep,  so  good 
night,"  and  she  stole  quietly  back  to  her 
room.  As  Jean  went  over  to  her  desk  and 
put  on  the  lights  again  she  looked  at  the  two 
bows  on  the  desk  and  smiled  down  at  them 
without  saying  a  word. 

Monday  morning  Jean  arose  before  Eliza- 
beth and  went  out  to  the  desk  to  do  a  little 
studying  before  breakfast.  She  had  been 


INITIATION  97 

translating  her  French  for  about  a  half-hour 
when  two  telegrams  were  brought  to  her 
room.  Frightened,  she  tore  open  the  envel- 
opes and  read  first, 

"  Is  it  to  be  cousin  or  sister  ? 

"ANNA  MAITLANDT." 

And  then, 

"  I  bet  on  the  '  Wearing  of  the  Green.' 

"THOMAS  CABOT." 

She  smiled  as  she  read  them  a  second  time, 
and  then  wondered  how  Tom  and  Anna  had 
ever  guessed. 

Jean  purposely  avoided  Elizabeth  that 
morning  and  hurried  to  chapel  alone.  When 
she  took  her  usual  seat  she  felt  as  if  every 
eye  was  upon  her.  She  tried  not  to  look  con- 
scious, but  she  felt  that  she  failed  in  the  at- 
tempt. It  took  only  a  moment  to  see  that 
she  wore  the  bow  of  green,  and  joy  reigned 
among  the  Gamma  Chis  and  sorrow  among 
the  Sigma  Belts. 

It  was  about  two  weeks  after  Pledging 
Monday  that  Jean  was  told  to  be  ready  on 
Wednesday,  November  twelfth,  for  her 


98       JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

initiation  into  Gamma  Chi.  At  half -past 
eight  she  reported  at  Peggy  Allison's  room 
where  she  was  blindfolded  and  wrapped  in 
a  long  black  cape.  It  seemed  to  her  that  she 
was  led  miles  and  miles  by  a  guard  on  either 
side  who  spoke  never  a  word.  Finally  they 
reached  what  appeared  to  be  a  subterranean 
passage  which  led  into  a  cold,  damp  cave. 
Jean  was  commanded  to  fall  upon  her  knees 
and  raise  her  right  hand  and  swear  by  all 
the  sacred  spirits  of  the  past  to  be  true  forever 
to  Gamma  Chi.  Then  there  arose  a  most 
dismal  wail  from  the  spirits  of  the  past,  and 
Jean  in  fear  and  trembling  promised  all  that 
was  asked  of  her. 

"  Will  you  wear  for  evermore  the  insignia 
of  Gamma  Chi?  "  said  a  sepulchral  voice. 

"  I  will,"  said  poor  Jean. 

"  Then  stretch  forth  thy  good  right  arm 
that  we  may  bare  it  to  the  elbow.  Here  let 
us  imprint  our  emblem,"  and  Jean  shuddered 
as  the  red-hot  brand  traced  out  the  figures  on 
her  arm.  She  wondered  why  she  did  not 
scream  out,  and  although  she  had  never 


INITIATION  99 

fainted  in  her  life  she  felt  at  this  moment  as 
though  she  were  about  to  fall  to  the  floor. 

Just  then  the  handkerchief  was  torn  from 
her  eyes,  a  hearty  laugh  came  from  the  girls 
and  Jean  found  herself  in  the  cellar  of  the 
dormitory  which  the  girls  had  borrowed  for 
the  occasion.  She  looked  down  at  her  bared 
arm  and  then  at  Peggy,  who  stood  before  her 
with  a  pointed  piece  of  ice  still  in  her  hands. 

"  You're  a  brick,  Jean.  It's  no  fun  trying 
to  haze  you;  why  didn't  you  scream  or  do 
something  exciting?  Well,  you  have  been 
so  good  about  this  part  that  we'll  take  you 
up  to  society  rooms  without  any  more  delay." 

When  they  reached  the  rooms  which  were 
on  the  upper  floor  of  a  private  residence  a 
little  distance  from  the  college  buildings  they 
found  all  the  girls  chatting  merrily  and 
laughing  over  the  evening's  adventures. 
Soon,  however,  they  proceeded  to  serious 
matters,  and  the  five  freshmen  and  one 
sophomore  were  initiated  into  the  noble 
society  of  Gamma  Chi.  As  it  was  then,  and 
still  is,  a  secret  society,  it  would  not  be  fitting 


ioo  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

to  divulge  the  mysteries  which  were  revealed 
to  the  wondering  six.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
in  due  time  the  serious  business  ended,  the 
eating  began,  and  such  quantities  of  food  as 
those  thirty  girls  consumed !  At  length,  how- 
ever, they  were  satisfied  and  arose  and  form- 
ing a  circle  they  joined  hands  and  sang : 

"Oh,  here's  to  Gamma  Chi,  Gamma  Chi; 
Oh,  here's  to  Gamma  Chi,  Gamma  Chi; 
Oh,  here's  to  Gamma  Chi.    We'll  be  loyal  till  we  die ; 
Drink  it  down,  drink  it  down  to  Gamma  Chi,  Chi, 
Chi! 

And  then  the  president,  Florence  Farns- 
worth,  took  the  bunch  of  American  Beauty 
roses  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the  table 
and  gave  one  rose  to  each  of  the  new  members 
and  pinned  a  glittering  gold  star  upon  the 
left  side  of  their  waists,  saying  as  she  did 
so,  "Just  above  your  hearts,  girls;  always 
loyal  to  Gamma  Chi.  Now,  three  cheers  for 
our  six  new  members."  After  these  were 
given,  it  was  all  over  and  the  girls  departed  to 
their  different  dormitories. 

As  Jean  had  expected,  she  found  Elizabeth 
had  gone  to  bed  and  to  sleep,  but  not  before 


INITIATION  101 

first  putting  Jean's  kimona  and  slippers  on 
the  couch  so  that  she  might  make  herself  com- 
fortable as  soon  as  she  arrived.  Jean  put  her 
beautiful  rose  in  a  long,  thin  vase  she  had 
recently  purchased  in  town  and  then  placed 
it  on  Elizabeth's  desk.  She  wished  that 
there  might  have  been  one  more  freshman 
initiated  that  evening.  She  saw  how  impos- 
sible it  was  just  then,  but  it  was  something 
to  work  for  by  herself.  She  was  just  be- 
ginning to  see  something  of  the  real  Elizabeth 
of  whom  the  other  girls  had  not  the  slightest 
suspicion. 

Just  before  she  retired  Jean  went  to  her 
desk  and  filled  out  a  telegram  blank  which  she 
found  there: 

"To  Miss  ANNA  MAITLANDT,  Massachusetts   General 

Hospital,  Boston,  Massachusetts: 
"  From  now  on  it  is  to  be  sister  and  cousin. 

"JEAN." 


**X^VH,  Elizabeth,  it's  come,  it's  come!" 
I       J   and  Jean  danced  into  the  room  and 
frantically  waved  several  sheets  of 
paper  in  her  hands. 

"What's  come?"  said  Elizabeth,  as  she 
looked  up  from  her  history. 

"  My  letter  from  Tom,  and  the  invitation  to 
the  Harvard- Yale  game.  You  see,  I've  been 
wondering  all  the  fall  if  I  was  to  go,  or 
whether  Tom  would  find  other  fellows1  sis- 
ters more  attractive  and  forget  all  about  me. 
Don't  you  know  that  little  verse : 

"All  good  boys  love  their  sisters; 

So  good  I  have  grown, 
That  I  love  other  boys'  sisters 
'Most  as  well  as  my  own." 

As  it  is,  though,  I  am  going  with  Tom's  room- 
mate and  Tom  is  going  to  take  Connie  Hunt- 
102 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME     103 

ington.  You  haven't  met  her,  have  you? 
She's  a  California  girl,  in  at  the  Conservatory, 
and  an  awfully  good  friend  of  Tom's. 

"  I  mean  to  have  her  out  here  as  soon  as 
there's  something  worth  while  to  take  her  to. 
The  game  comes  the  Saturday  before 
Thanksgiving,  November  23d,  and  it's  only 
five  days  off.  Tom  says  I'm  to  meet  the 
other  three  in  town  Saturday  morning  and 
we'll  have  lunch  early  and  then  start  for  the 
game;  afterwards  we'll  have  dinner  at  the 
Touraine,  and  go  to  the  theater.  Won't  that 
be  glorious  ?  Oh,  I'm  so  anxious  to  see  Tom ! 
I  wonder  if  he'll  think  I've  changed  any  since 
September.  Then  he  encloses  a  letter  from 
Aunt  Sarah,  telling  him  her  plans  to  give  us 
a  good  time  on  our  visit  with  her  over  the 
Thanksgiving  holidays.  You  know,  she  lives 
in  New  York  City  winters  and  has  more 
money  than  she  knows  what  to  do  with." 

"  But,  Jean,"  said  her  room-mate,  "  you 
four  aren't  going  to  dinner  and  to  the  theater 
alone  on  Saturday,  are  you?  And  how  are 
you  going  to  get  back  to  the  hall  after  the 
theater?" 


104   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Oh,  I  shall  have  to  get  permission  from 
Mary  Boynton  to  be  away  for  the  day,  and 
I  shall  come  back  after  the  theater  in  Mrs. 
Nutter's  machine.  Mrs.  Nutter  is  an  aunt 
of  Constance  Huntingdon's,  who  lives  in  Bos- 
ton, and  has  promised  to  chaperon  the  party. 
I'm  going  in  to  see  Midge  Remington  a  few 
minutes,  for  she's  been  telling  everybody  for 
weeks  that  she  was  going  to  the  game  with 
Jack  Goodrich,  who's  a  senior  at  Harvard. 
She'll  know  all  about  everything  and  tell  me 
just  what  to  do." 

But  Marjorie  was  not  at  home,  or  at  least 
did  not  answer  to  the  knock  on  her  door. 
She  had  never  forgiven  Jean  for  joining 
Gamma  Chi,  and  had  been  rather  cool  to  her 
ever  since  although  she  did  not  openly  show 
her  hostility.  Jean  hurried  on  to  Mary 
Boynton's  room  to  gain  the  desired  permis- 
sion to  attend  the  game  at  Cambridge.  When 
she  entered  Miss  Boynton's  room,  that  young 
lady  and  her  room-mate,  Ethel  Lillibridge, 
were  having  afternoon  tea  with  Miss  Hooper. 
Mary  insisted  upon  Jean's  joining  them  and 
drawing  another  chair  up  to  the  cozy  tea- 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME   105 

table  poured  out  a  cup  of  tea  and  passed  her 
the  heaped-up  plate  of  sandwiches. 

"  How  pleasant,"  said  Miss  Hooper.  "  I 
was  intending  to  call  on  you,  Miss  Cabot, 
after  I  left  here.  I  seldom  get  over  to 
Merton,  and  when  I  do  I  enjoy  the  girls  here 
so  much  that  I  usually  spend  the  afternoon 
in  one  room  instead  of  making  several  calls 
so  perhaps  I  shouldn't  have  seen  you  after 
all.  How  are  you  enjoying  the  year?  I 
believe  I  haven't  seen  you  except  at  a  distance 
since  the  freshman  reception  when  the 
sophomores  left  us  in  the  dark  so  uncere- 
moniously. Of  course,  like  the  rest  of  us, 
you  are  very  busy  all  the  time." 

"  Oh,  I  hope  I'm  not  intruding  upon  your 
tea-party,"  said  Jean.  "  I  came  to  see  Miss 
Boynton  on  business,  but  I  can  postpone  it 
until  another  day." 

"  Now,  Jean,  wait  until  we  have  finished 
our  tea  and  then  if  Miss  Hooper  will  excuse 
us  for  a  moment  we  can  transact  our  little 
business  in  the  other  room  and  come  back  for 
some  more  tea." 

About  five  o'clock,   after  Jean  and   Mary 


io6  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

had  discussed  the  game  and  permission  had 
been  given  her  to  attend,  Jean  arose  to  leave 
the  room.  Miss  Hooper  excused  herself,  and 
the  two  started  down  the  corridor  together. 

"  I  think  this  is  a  splendid  afternoon  to 
walk,  Miss  Cabot,  I  wonder  if  you  would 
care  to  stroll  down  to  the  Willows  with  me 
before  supper,"  said  Miss  Hooper.  "  I 
haven't  been  down  there  since  college  opened, 
and  it  has  always  been  one  of  my  favorite 
walks." 

Jean  had  planned  to  spend  the  hour  before 
supper  on  her  French,  but  she  felt  that  she 
could  not  refuse  Miss  Hooper's  invitation. 
The  day  had  been  clear  and  crisp  and  the 
setting  sun  dropped  its  mantle  of  brilliant 
color  upon  all  the  world.  Twilight  was 
creeping  on  apace  as  they  entered  the  Willows, 
so  called  because  of  the  great  weeping  wil- 
lows which  grew  thickly  on  both  sides  of  the 
road  for  a  half  mile  or  so  below  the  post- 
office. 

"  When  the  snow  is  on  the  ground  and  it's 
moonlight,  I  want  you  to  come  down  here 
with  me  some  evening,"  said  Miss  Hooper, 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME     107 

"  and  see  the  beauty  of  the  willows  in  winter. 
I  haven't  a  particle  of  poetry  in  my  soul,  but 
if  I  did  have  I  am  sure  I  should  find  inspira- 
tion here.  What  a  wonderful  thing  it  is  to 
have  talent  and  give  so  much  that  is  beauti- 
ful to  the  world!  I  cannot  play  or  sing,  but 
music  has  always  been  a  passion  with  me. 
Mary  Boynton  told  me  how  well  you  play 
and  how  much  you  enjoy  music.  I  am  glad 
that  we  have  that  taste  in  common.  I  have 
two  tickets  for  the  Symphony  concerts  in 
Boston  this  winter  and  I  should  like  to  take 
you  with  me  the  Saturday  evening  after  our 
Thanksgiving  holidays  if  you  would  like  to 

go." 

"  Indeed  I  should  like  to  go,  Miss  Hooper, 
and  I  thank  you  very  much  for  the  invitation. 
Music  is  my  favorite  study  and  I  intend 
to  devote  all  my  time  to  it  next  year." 

"  What !  do  you  mean  that  you  are  going 
to  be  a  special  ?  " 

"  No,  Miss  Hooper,  I  do  not  intend  to 
return  to  Ashton  another  year.  I  shall  study 
music  in  Los  Angeles,  and  in  a  year  or  two 
perhaps  study  in  Germany." 


io8  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"Oh,  you're  not  coming  back  to  college? 
Are  you  serious  about  it?  I  hope  you  have 
not  fully  made  up  your  mind  to  it,  for  we 
want  you  here." 

"Yes,  Miss  Hooper,  from  the  very  first 
I  have  only  intended  staying  this  one  year." 

"  Perhaps  we  can  make  you  change  your 
mind  before  June.  I  think  we  had  better 
turn  back  now  for  it  must  be  almost  six 
o'clock.  I  could  walk  on  for  miles  and  miles 
here  and  forget  time  completely.  Do  you 
know  where  I  live,  Miss  Cabot?  It's  Wel- 
lington, first  floor.  I  have  been  matron  there 
for  ten  years,  and  every  year  I  am  determined 
to  give  it  up  and  live  out  of  a  dormitory, 
but  still  I  stay  on.  There's  something  very 
fascinating  to  me  in  living  with  the  girls  and 
coming  to  know  them  so  intimately.  Do  you 
spend  the  Thanksgiving  recess  away  ?  " 

"Yes,  my  brother,  who  is  in  Yale,  and  I 
are  going  to  an  aunt's  in  New  York.  I'm 
to  go  over  Wednesday  noon  and  stay  until 
Sunday  night.  It  seems  as  though  I  couldn't 
wait  for  the  time  to  come.  Do  you  go 
away  ?  " 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME  109 

"  No,  I  haven't  many  relatives  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  so  I  shall  be  here.  Miss 
Emerson  always  invites  the  faculty  and  girls, 
who  have  no  other  place,  to  her  house  to  eat 
turkey  with  her." 

The  conversation  changed  from  one  sub- 
ject to  another  and  when  they  parted  at  Mer- 
ton,  Jean  wondered  why  no  reference  had 
ever  been  made  to  her  dropping  mathematics 
without  an  explanation  to  Miss  Hooper.  She 
was  beginning  to  think  she  had  been  a  little 
hasty  in  her  judgment  of  her  and  she  almost 
wished  she  had  not  given  up  the  subject  so 
quickly. 

The  days  went  by  on  leaden  feet  until  Sat- 
urday the  twenty-third.  Jean  awoke  that 
morning  early  for  excitement  would  not  let  her 
sleep.  She  looked  over  at  Elizabeth's  bed  and 
found  she  was  awake,  too,  so  she  quickly 
jumped  from  bed  and  ran  to  the  window  and 
raised  the  shade.  "  Oh,  goody,"  she  cried, 
"  it's  going  to  be  a  fine  day !  I  was  afraid  last 
night  it  would  rain,  for  the  moon  had  a  ring 
around  it,  and  that's  a  sure  sign  of  storm.  I'm 
going  to  get  ready  for  the  game  before  break- 


i  io     JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

fast  so  I  can  go  to  Chapel  and  first  recitation. 
I  don't  need  to  start  in  until  10.23  for  I'm  not 
to  meet  the  others  until  eleven  at  the  Touraine. 
Wasn't  it  lucky  I  chose  a  blue  hat  and  suit  this 
fall?  It  isn't  a  real  Yale  blue,  but  it  is  near 
enough  to  show  where  my  sympathies  are. 
Do  you  think  I'd  better  take  my  fur  coat?  I 
suppose  one  can't  tell  about  the  weather  these 
days,  and  it's  better  to  be  on  the  safe  side." 

Jean  talked  continually  as  she  dressed  and 
answered  her  own  questions,  for  Elizabeth 
seemed  unusually  silent.  When  she  finished 
dressing  she  looked  to  Elizabeth  for  approval. 
"  What,  aren't  you  up  yet  ?  What's  the  mat- 
ter this  morning?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Jean.  When  I  went  to  bed 
last  night  I  had  a  slight  headache  and  this 
morning  it's  so  bad  I  can't  lift  my  head  from 
the  pillow.  I  don't  understand  it,  for  I  never 
have  headaches." 

f<  Too  much  studying,  dear.  You  know  you 
were  reading  very  late  last  night.  Well,  you 
stay  right  in  bed  all  the  morning.  I'll  bring 
up  your  breakfast  to  you  and  sign  off  for  you 
at  the  office.  Where  do  you  keep  your  apron  ? 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME      in 

I'm  going  to  do  your  work  this  morning  in  the 
dining-room." 

"Why,  Jean  Cabot,  of  course  you're  not! 
The  idea  of  your  thinking  of  such  a  thing. 
I'll  be  better  if  I  get  up,  and  I'm  sure  I  shall 
be  all  right  when  I  get  at  work." 

"  No,  you  stay  right  where  you  are  and  let 
me  do  as  I  said.  There,  it's  seven  now ;  good- 
by  for  a  little  while ;  please  go  to  sleep  again," 
and  Jean  shut  the  door  before  Elizabeth  could 
protest  further. 

Every  girl  in  the  dining-room  was  so  aston- 
ished that  she  could  hardly  eat  when  she  saw 
Jean  Cabot  with  a  dainty  white  apron  over 
her  new  blue  suit,  waiting  on  the  middle  table 
at  breakfast.  She  hurried  here  and  there  and 
supplied  their  wants  as  though  she  had  done 
it  every  morning  of  the  year  instead  of  for 
the  first  time  in  her  life.  Questions  were  on 
everybody's  lips,  but  her  only  answer  was, 
"  Oh,  Elizabeth  overslept  and  I'm  helping 
out." 

Just  as  she  had  finished  her  own  breakfast 
she  was  called  out  into  the  hall  to  sign  for  an 
express  package  which  had  just  arrived  for 


H2     JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

her.  When  she  opened  it  she  found  an  enor- 
mous bunch  of  violets  with  a  card  bearing  the 
name,  Frederick  Manning  Thornton.  She 
buried  her  face  in  the  heart  of  the  bouquet 
and  breathed  deeply  of  the  fragrance,  then 
she  held  them  up  against  her  dress,  exclaim- 
ing, "  A  perfect  match,  nothing  could  be  bet- 
ter," and  she  hastened  upstairs  to  put  them 
in  water  until  it  was  time  to  start. 

After  she  had  placed  them  in  a  vase  she 
thought  she  would  show  them  to  Elizabeth. 
She  knocked  lightly  on  the  door  to  see  if  she 
were  asleep,  and  a  cheery  little  "  Come  in " 
made  her  open  the  door.  "  See  what  I've 
brought  to  you,"  said  Jean  before  she  knew 
what  she  was  saying.  "  Let  me  draw  the 
table  up  to  the  bed  and  put  the  violets  where 
you  can  see  them.  Now  I'm  going  down  for 
your  breakfast." 

"Why,  Jean,  where  did  these  violets  come 
from?" 

"  Oh,  from  an  unknown  admirer  of  yours 
who  does  not  wish  his  name  revealed.  Now, 
what  would  you  like  for  your  breakfast?  " 

"  Jean,  I  know  these  flowers  were  intended 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME     113 

for  you  to  wear  to  the  game  and  I  shall  not 
let  you  leave  them  here.  What  has  possessed 
you  this  morning?  You're  not  at  all  like 
yourself." 

"  It's  just  that  I'm  nearly  beside  myself  be- 
cause I'm  going  to  see  Tom,  blessed  Tom!  I 
guess  if  you  were  miles  and  miles  away  from 
your  family  you'd  be  beside  yourself  at  the 
prospect  of  seeing  your  only  brother  in  the 
East.  I'm  going  to  bring  him  out  here  to- 
morrow, so  you  must  get  better  before  then." 

"  Truly,  I'm  better  now,  Jean,  and  I'm  sure 
when  you  return  to-night  you'll  find  me  all 
well  again.  But  I  shall  insist  upon  your  wear- 
ing your  violets." 

"  No,  Elizabeth,  they're  for  you,  to  remind 
you  of  me  when  I'm  gone." 

"  I  don't  need  these  to  remind  me  of  you, 
Jean ;  there  are  so  many  other  reminders  every- 
where." 

Mrs.  Thompson  insisted  upon  taking  up 
Elizabeth's  breakfast  to  her  and  Jean  hurried 
to  Chapel,  for  it  was  late.  Just  outside  Mer- 
ton  she  met  Marjorie  Remington  and  Lill 
Spalding  on  their  way  in  town.  "  Why  don't 


ii4   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

you  come  in  with  us,  Jean ;  we're  going  to  cut 
all  day.  Come  along  and  be  a  sport." 

"  No,  I'm  not  going  to  cut  any  more  than's 
absolutely  necessary.  I  don't  need  to  go  in 
until  the  10.23,"  said  Jean. 

"  Oh,  very  well.  Seems  to  me  you're  get- 
ting awfully  conscientious  all  of  a  sudden," 
and  as  she  hurried  away  Marjorie  proceeded  to 
tell  Lill  of  the  incident  of  the  breakfast  table. 

Jean  slipped  into  Chapel  a  little  late  and  then 
went  into  the  philosophy  class.  At  length  it 
was  ended  and  she  was  on  her  way  to  Merton. 
She  had  time  for  a  look  into  Elizabeth's  room 
and  found  her  more  comfortable,  although  still 
in  bed.  When  she  reached  the  station  it  was 
thronged  with  girls  going  to  the  game,  and 
until  the  train  arrived  they  all  talked  excitedly 
about  their  seats  and  escorts.  Most  of  the 
girls  were  to  be  the  guests  'of  Harvard  men 
and  of  course  would  sit  on  the  Harvard  side, 
but  a  few,  like  herself,  had  brothers  or  cousins 
at  Yale.  She  discovered  another  freshman, 
Jessica  Goddard,  attired  in  blue,  and  she  ran 
up  and  greeted  her  with,  "  Good,  Jess,  you're 
Yale,  I  know !  Come  and  sit  with  me  and  tell 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME  115 

me  all  about  the  Yale  players.  I  know  almost 
nothing  about  them  and  Brother  will  be  sure 
to  expect  me  to  be  well  informed." 

The  twelve  minutes  passed  rapidly  and  be- 
fore Jean  had  heard  half  enough  they  were 
out  of  the  train  and  a  part  of  the  vast  throng 
at  the  North  Station.  They  had  taken  only  a 
few  steps  before  Jean  heard  her  name  called 
several  times  and  turning  she  saw  Tom  and 
his  room-mate  and  Constance  Huntington  run- 
ning up  the  platform  back  of  her. 

"  How  did  you  get  by  us,  Jean  ?  "  said  Tom. 
"  We  stood  right  by  the  gate  and  didn't  see 
anything  of  you  until  Connie  spied  you  walk- 
ing up  the  platform.  We  were  looking  for  a 
girl  with  a  bunch  of  violets  and  you  haven't 
any." 

"Well,  I'll  tell  you  about  those  later  on," 
said  Jean,  "  but  now  please  introduce  me  to 
your  room-mate  so  I  can  thank  him  for  send- 
ing them  to  me." 

Introductions  followed  and  Jean  apologized 
for  not  wearing  the  violets.  "  My  room- 
mate was  ill  and  I  left  them  with  her,"  she 
said. 


n6     JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"In  that  case,"  replied  young  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton, "  you  certainly  deserve  another  bunch  as 
soon  as  we  can  locate  a  florist's  shop." 

"Why,  Tom,  how  did  you  happen  to  be 
here  at  the  station  ?  You  told  me  in  your  tele- 
gram to  be  at  the  Touraine." 

"Mrs.  Nutter  kindly  offered  us  her  auto- 
mobile for  the  morning,  so  we  decided  to  come 
down  here  and  surprise  you.  She  is  in  the 
machine  just  outside  the  station,  so  perhaps 
we'd  better  hustle  out  there.  We  are  going 
to  ride  around  the  city  till  lunch-time.  The 
game's  at  two,  so  we  won't  have  any  time  for 
sight-seeing  after  lunch." 

After  they  had  taken  their  places  in  the  ma- 
chine they  were  whirled  away  into  the  crowded 
thoroughfare.  Lunch  was  hastily  eaten  and 
at  one  o'clock  they  were  on  their  way  to  Cam- 
bridge. Thousands  of  automobiles  raced 
along  Massachusetts  Avenue;  cabs  and  han- 
soms, electric  cars,  everything  was  taxed  to 
its  utmost  as  it  sped  on  to  the  game.  Mrs. 
Nutter  tried  to  point  out  places  of  interest, 
but  no  one  seemed  to  care  much  for  anything 
but  the  game. 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME     117 

When  they  reached  the  Stadium  they  found 
both  sides  of  the  street  lined  with  automobiles, 
so  Mrs.  Nutter  had  her  chauffeur  leave  them 
at  the  main  entrance  and  then  take  the  car  up 
the  long  line  till  space  could  be  found  to 
park  it. 

It  took  a  long  time  for  the  little  party  to 
reach  their  seats,  for  the  surging  crowd  ahead 
of  them  demanded  attention,  but  each  and  all 
jostled  along  without  a  shade  of  impatience. 
Jean  thought  she  had  seen  numberless  girls  at 
college,  but  now  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  girls 
together  would  not  have  filled  a  single  section. 
Where  could  they  all  have  come  from?  At 
last  they  were  seated  in  a  section  which  the 
boys  declared  couldn't  be  better  and  they  had 
a  good  half -hour  to  view  the  crowds  and  the 
players  before  the  game  began.  Tom  and  his 
room-mate  recognized  fellows  all  around  them, 
for  almost  every  one  in  Yale  had  come  to  the 
game  and  they  took  great  pleasure  in  pointing 
out  the  celebrities. 

"  See,  there's  Tad  Bronson,  two  rows  below 
us,  captain  of  next  year's  baseball  team.  Isn't 
that  girl  with  him  a  peach?  They  say  they're 


u8      JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

engaged.  She  came  all  the  way  from  Chicago 
for  the  game." 

"  There's  Prexy  down  in  the  front  row, 
and  that  man  just  rising  is  Prof.  Hamil- 
ton. He  flunks  more  men  in  college  than  all 
of  the  rest  of  the  profs  together." 

"  See,  here  comes  our  fellows,  Tubbie  Spen- 
cer in  the  lead.  Wait  till  you  see  how  he 
can  play.  What's  the  matter?  Why  don't 
we  give  them  a  cheer?  Well,  here's  Billy 
Knowlton,  cheer  leader  for  this  section;  he'll 
start  'em  up,"  and  in  a  moment  the  most  deaf- 
ening noise  that  Jean  had  ever  heard  rose  from 
the  Yale  side.  Cheer  followed  cheer,  and 
songs  were  occasionally  intermingled.  Jean 
found  herself  joining  in  as  excitedly  as  the 
boys  and  in  a  little  while  knew  all  the  Yale 
players  and  most  of  the  Harvard  ones. 

Promptly  at  two  o'clock  the  referee  blew 
his  whistle  and  the  two  elevens  lined  up  for 
the  first  kick-off.  From  then  until  ten  minutes 
after  four  there  was  not  a  dull  moment.  The 
ball  was  back  and  forth  over  the  field,  first  on 
Harvard's  ground  and  then  on  Yale's.  The 
playing  was  more  even  than  it  had  been  for 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME     ng 

years  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  half  the 
score  was  6-5  in  favor  of  Harvard. 

Jean  was  so  disappointed  she  could  hardly 
keep  back  the  tears  that  had  started  to  her 
eyes,  and  she  cried  out,  "  I  think  it's  a  down- 
right shame!  To  think  you  should  be  beaten 
at  my  first  Harvard- Yale,  Mr.  Thornton!  I 
just  hate  Harvard." 

"  Yes,  it  is  hard  luck,  and  my  greatest  re- 
gret is  that  I  can't  look  forward  to  next  year 
to  see  Yale  trim  them.  That's  the  worst  of 
being  a  senior;  everything  you  do  this  year  is 
for  the  last  time.  I  envy  you  being  a  fresh- 
man with  four  good  years  ahead  of  you. 
They're  the  best  years  of  your  life,  take  my 
word  for  it.  I'd  give  a  good  deal  if  I  were 
beginning  it  all  over  again.  Of  course  I  shall 
always  try  to  go  to  the  big  games,  but  it  will 
never  be  the  same  as  when  you're  an  under- 
graduate. See  the  fellows  down  there  form- 
ing the  procession.  They'll  march  up  and 
down  the  Stadium  several  times  and  throw 
their  hats  up  over  the  goals.  No  one  ever  ex- 
pects to  get  his  own  hat  back,  but  it's  all  part 
of  the  game.  They'd  better  celebrate  to-day, 


120  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

for  they  may  not  have  another  chance 
again." 

The  little  party  stood  and  watched  the  long 
procession  of  undergraduates  take  possession 
of  the  great  Stadium  as  they  marched  up  and 
down,  across  and  around  the  field.  When 
they  reached  either  goal  every  hat  was  off 
and  tossed  up  over  the  cross-bar  and  caught 
again  by  the  nearest  man  as  it  came  down. 
After  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  of  this  the  pro- 
cession passed  out  of  the  gate,  the  leaders  car- 
rying the  victorious  eleven  upon  their  backs, 
and  soon  they  were  lost  from  sight,  although 
their  shouting  and  singing  could  be  heard  long 
after. 

It  was  almost  dark  when  Mrs.  Nutter  and 
her  guests  took  their  places  in  the  automobile. 
They  had  been  obliged  to  wait  a  long  time  for 
the  machine,  as  there  were  so  many  others 
ahead  of  them.  However,  they  made  up  for 
lost  time  by  tearing  with  the  highest  speed 
toward  Boston.  As  they  were  crossing  Har- 
vard Bridge  Jean  begged  them  to  stop  a  mo- 
ment, for  the  three  bridges  spanning  the 
Charles  seemed  to  be  but  parallel  lines  of 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME  121 

bright  lights  which  in  the  darkness  presented 
a  most  novel  appearance.  She  saw  the  lighted 
dome  of  the  State  House  for  the  first  time  and 
exclaimed  upon  its  height  and  brilliancy.  "  I 
wish  I  had  to  cross  Harvard  Bridge  every 
night,  it  is  so  beautiful  here,"  she  said  as  they 
started  off  again. 

A  table  had  been  reserved  for  them  at  the 
Touraine  and  they  found  themselves  among 
a  merry  throng  of  young  people,  most  of  them 
the  supporters  of  the  crimson  and  jubilant  over 
their  victory.  Here  and  there  were  Yale  men 
and  their  guests  and  the  men  and  girls  circu- 
lated from  one  table  to  another  renewing  ac- 
quaintances. 

It  was  a  little  late  when  they  arrived  at  the 
theater  and  the  play  had  already  begun.  The 
house  had  been  bought  up  by  the  Yale  men 
and  decorations  of  blue  were  everywhere. 
The  singers  had  touches  of  blue  in  their  cos- 
tumes and  sang  the  good  old  Yale  songs,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  second  act  threw  hundreds 
of  rolls  of  blue  confetti  out  over  the  audience. 
No  one  pretended  to  know  anything  about  the 
comic  opera  itself,  for  there  was  so  much  Yale 


122   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

music  introduced,  so  many  jokes  about  the 
football  players  and  the  game,  so  much  ap- 
plause and  singing  on  the  part  of  those  in  the 
audience  that  the  real  plot,  if  there  could  be 
said  to  be  one,  was  almost  lost  sight  of. 

As  the  boys  wished  to  take  the  midnight  ex- 
press out  of  Boston,  Tom  suggested  that  they 
leave  before  the  last  act  was  quite  over.  The 
party  were  to  see  Jean  safely  landed  at  Ash- 
ton  and  then  motor  back  to  Boston.  Jean 
was  disappointed  that  Tom  could  not  stay  over 
Sunday,  for  she  had  promised  herself  the 
pleasure  of  taking  him  to  Vespers  and  intro- 
ducing him  to  her  friends.  He  promised  her 
that  pleasure  later  in  the  year  and  reminded 
her  that  they  were  to  have  five  days  together 
the  next  week.  The  two  talked  over  trains 
and  plans  for  meeting  in  New  York  and  the 
others  became  very  quiet,  for  the  day  had  been 
a  long  one  in  spite  of  its  many  pleasures,  and 
they  were  content  to  make  themselves  as  com- 
fortable as  possible  in  the  machine  and  let  the 
others  do  the  talking. 

It  was  after  eleven  when  they  drew  up  in 
front  of  Merton,  and  Jean  and  Tom  alighted. 


THE  HARVARD- YALE  GAME  123 

Good-nights  were  said  and  promises  made  for 
future  reunions,  and  as  Jean  stepped  into  the 
hall  Tom  sang  out,  "  Good-by  till  Wednesday. 
I'll  meet  you  in  the  Grand  Central  at  four. 
If  I'm  not  at  the  train  you  sit  down  by  the 
Inquiry  Office  and  wait  till  I  come.  The  trains 
are  apt  to  be  crowded  at  holiday  time  and  one 
can't  tell  when  they  will  arrive.  So  long; 
hope  you'll  find  your  room-mate  better.  Give 
her  my  bestest,"  and  he  hastened  back  to  the 
others  and  they  were  off  and  away  before  Jean 
had  reached  45. 

Although  she  entered  the  room  very  quietly 
Elizabeth  heard  her  and  called  her  into  the 
bedroom,  which  she  entered,  asking,  "  How 
do  you  feel,  Elizabeth  ?  " 

"  Oh,  ever  so  much  better,  Jean.  I  shall  be 
all  right  in  the  morning.  My  headache  has 
gone  entirely.  I  got  up  this  afternoon,  but 
didn't  go  out  of  the  room.  So  many  of  the 
girls  were  away  that  I  wasn't  really  needed  in 
the  dining-room.  Was  everything  as  nice  as 
you  expected  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Elizabeth,  I  think  it  has  been  the 
happiest  day  this  year  so  far.  There's  so 


124  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

much  to  tell  you  it  can  be  our  main  topic  of 
conversation  for  the  rest  of  the  term.  How- 
ever, I'm  not  going  to  begin  until  to-morrow, 
for  I'm  so  tired  I  can't  see  straight.  I'll  just 
put  out  the  lights  in  the  other  room  and  then 
I'm  ready  for  bed." 

"  Oh,  Jean,  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  there 
are  two  notes  for  you  on  your  desk.  Some 
one  brought  them  this  afternoon  and  I  left 
them  where  you  could  find  them  as  soon  as 
you  came  in." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Jean,  and  she  dragged 
her  weary  feet  out  into  the  other  room.  She 
went  straight  to  her  desk  and  turned  on  the 
little  desk  light,  which  revealed  two  envelopes 
bearing  the  college  seal.  "  They  look  suspi- 
cious," she  said  to  herself.  "  Faculty  notes ;  I 
recognize  the  writing  on  one  of  them.  Well,  I 
won't  open  them  to-night.  I've  had  a  per- 
fect day  and  these  would  spoil  it  all.  I'll  wait 
till  morning  before  I  read  them,"  and  she  left 
them  exactly  where  Elizabeth  had  placed  them, 
and  putting  out  the  lights  was  soon  in  bed. 

She  awoke  very  early  next  morning,  almost 
before  it  was  light,  for  in  spite  of  her  weari- 


THE  HARVARD-YALE  GAME     125 

ness  she  could  not  seem  to  sleep.  Something 
had  disturbed  her  usual  placid  slumber,  but 
she  could  not  just  remember  what  it  was. 
Then  it  came  over  her  that  something  unpleas- 
ant waited  for  her  on  her  desk.  She  crept 
softly  into  the  other  room  and  sat  down  at  the 
desk  and  slowly  opened  the  notes.  The  first 
one  was  from  Mile.  Franchant;  a  warning  in 
French  with  the  suggestion  that  the  subject  be 
dropped  at  Christmas  if  there  was  not  a  de- 
cided improvement.  The  second  was  from 
the  Office  informing  her  that  she  had  overcut 
in  Chapel  and  also  in  gymnasium  classes  and 
asking  her  to  report  at  the  Dean's  Office  Mon- 
day at  half -past  eleven  o'clock.  How  long 
she  stared  at  the  messages  before  her  she 
did  not  know,  but  when  she  could  no  longer  see 
them  for  the  blinding  tears  she  dropped  her 
head  on  her  arms  upon  the  desk  and  sobbed, 
"  I  do  care,  I  do  care !  "  And  when  some  time 
after  Elizabeth  came  out  into  the  room  she 
found  her  still  there.  She  did  not  try  to  com- 
fort her,  but  left  her  to  fight  it  out  with  her- 
self. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE   THANKSGIVING   HOLIDAYS 

JEAN  was  on  her  knees  bending  over  her 
steamer  trunk.  On  either  side  of  her  were 
huge  piles  of  clothes  and  she  was  hav- 
ing great  difficulty  in  choosing  what  to  take 
with  her.  It  was  Tuesday  just  after  supper, 
and  Jean  had  decided  to  devote  the  evening  to 
her  packing,  for  she  was  to  start  at  noon  the 
next  day.  Marjorie  Remington  had  offered 
to  help  her  pack  and  although  Jean  felt  that 
she  had  done  it  more  to  see  her  clothes  and 
hear  what  she  was  going  to  do  in  New  York 
than  to  render  her  any  real  assistance  she  had 
not  declined  her  offer.  She  did  not  wish  to 
incur  Marjorie's  ill-will  any  more  than  was 
necessary,  for  already  several  little  things  had 
been  said  and  done  which  hurt  Jean  more  than 
she  was  willing  to  admit.  And  not  only 
against  Jean  had  Marjorie  made  her  unkind 
remarks  but  against  Elizabeth  as  well,  and 
126 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      127 

Jean  felt  that  Marjorie  availed  herself  of  every 
opportunity  to  prejudice  her  against  her  room- 
mate. 

Marjorie  had  been  exceedingly  careless  of 
her  own  behavior  of  late,  and  after  the  Har- 
vard-Yale game  had  stayed  in  town  all  night 
at  her  aunt's  without  first  gaining  permission 
to  do  so.  She  was  severely  reprimanded  for 
this  and  warned  that  a  second  offense  would 
not  be  tolerated.  And,  although  no  one  knew 
it,  she  had  received  two  faculty  warnings,  but 
had  made  up  her  mind  to  ignore  them. 

A  little  after  eight  o'clock  she  hurried  into 
Jean's  room  exclaiming,  "  Sorry,  Jean,  but  I 
can't  help  you  pack  after  all,  Jack's  just  come 
out  to  call.  I  hadn't  the  least  idea  he  would 
come  to-night,  but  he's  such  an  uncertain 
quantity  I  never  can  tell  what  he's  going  to 
do  next.  However,  he's  so  good-looking  and 
such  a  dear  I  can  forgive  him  for  'most  every- 
thing. Hope  you'll  have  a  gay  time  in  the  big 
city.  Wish  I  were  going  over,  too,  but  I've 
decided  to  go  to  my  aunt's.  You  see,  Jack 
isn't  going  home,  either,  for  he  only  has  the 
day  and  he's  promised  to  give  me  one  good 


128  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

time  if  I'll  stay  in  Boston.  Here  comes  that 
pious  room-mate  of  yours.  Positively,  she 
gets  on  my  nerves  more  every  day.  I  don't 
believe  she's  half  as  innocent  as  she  pretends 
to  be,  either,  and  I  wouldn't  trust  all  my  per- 
fectly good  things  to  her  the  way  you  do. 
Good-by,"  and  as  she  left  the  room  Elizabeth 
entered. 

"  Oh,  Jean,  please  let  me  help  you  with  your 
packing.  When  do  you  ever  expect  to  wear  all 
these  clothes?  There's  enough  for  a  month 
instead  of  a  few  days.  I've  never  seen  half 
of  these  before." 

"  No,  some  of  them  haven't  been  out  of  my 
trunk  before.  I've  been  saving  them  for  this 
visit,  as  I  expect  to  be  on  the  go  every  minute 
I'm  away  and  I'll  need  plenty  of  good-looking 
things.  Would  you  take  this  chiffon,  or  does 
it  look  too  soiled  ?  " 

Before  Elizabeth  could  answer  there  came 
a  knock  at  the  door  and  a  telegram  was  handed 
to  Jean.  When  she  opened  it  she  could  hardly 
believe  her  eyes.  It  was  from  Tom  and 
said: 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      129 

"Visit  postponed.  Aunt  Sarah  very  sick.  Stay  at 
college. 

"  TOM." 

She  did  not  say  a  word,  but  passed  the  tele- 
gram over  to  Elizabeth  to  read  and  then  sank 
helplessly  down  on  the  floor  beside  her  trunk. 
When  astonishment  had  given  place  to  anger, 
she  burst  out,  "  Did  you  ever  hear  of  anything 
like  that  ?  Why  did  Aunt  Sarah  take  Thanks- 
giving of  all  times  in  the  year  to  be  sick?  To 
think  I've  been  waiting  all  this  time  to  go  on 
and  visit  her  and  see  Tom  and  have  the  time 
of  my  life  and  then  have  to  give  it  all  up  and 
stay  here  with  the  rest  of  lonely  freshmen! 
Pleasant  prospect,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"Oh,  Jean,  I'm  very  sorry  it's  happened. 
Of  course  it's  a  disappointment.  But  there 
will  be  a  lot  of  the  other  girls  here,  and  you're 
all  invited  down  to  Miss  Emerson's  for  dinner. 
It  won't  be  like  New  York  with  your  own  peo- 
ple, but  I'm  sure  she  will  do  everything  she 
can  to  make  the  day  a  pleasant  one  for  you. 
I  almost  hate  to  ask  you,  but  would  you  rather 
go  home  with  me  to  Newburgh  than  stay  here 


130   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

at  college?  I  haven't  very  much  to  offer  you 
in  the  way  of  good  times,  but  I  should  love  to 
have  you  see  my  home  and  know  my  peo- 
ple if  you  won't  mind  putting  up  with  all 
our  inconveniences.  I  can  show  you  real  old 
New  England  country  life  in  the  winter,  for 
they  have  snow  there  already,  and  it's  been 
good  skating,  too.  There  are  hardly  any 
young  people,  and  what  there  are  will  not  be 
at  all  like  those  you  have  always  known.  You 
won't  need  any  of  those  fine  clothes  you  had 
planned  to  take  to  New  York,  but  you  can  put 
a  few  waists  and  a  thick  dress  and  sweater 
into  your  suit-case  and  come  along  without 
any  more  preparations.  It's  very  cold  up 
there,  so  you  want  to  take  plenty  of  warm 
clothes.  I  have  planned  to  start  from  the 
North  Station  at  four  o'clock,  but  we  won't 
reach  home  until  late  in  the  evening,  as  we 
have  to  drive  a  good  seven  miles.  There  is  no 
station  at  Newburgh,  but  we  leave  the  train  at 
Wilton  Junction  and  probably  Brother  will 
meet  us  there  to  drive  us  home  in  the  sleigh. 
Don't  decide  to-night,  Jean;  think  it  over  and 
tell  me  in  the  morning.  I  think  I'll  go  to  bed 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      131 

early  to-night.  How  good  it  seems  not  to 
have  any  lessons  to  prepare!  Before  I  go, 
can  I  help  you  put  away  your  clothes  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you  will,  Elizabeth,  and  I  sha'n't 
wait  until  to-morrow  to  accept  your  invitation. 
I  am  terribly  disappointed  not  to  go  to  my 
aunt's,  but  I  think  it  will  be  splendid  to  go 
home  with  you.  I've  never  been  sleighing  or 
skating  in  my  life,  and  all  I  know  about  it  is 
what  I've  read  in  books.  Thank  you  so  much 
for  wanting  me  to  go  with  you.  Will  you 
put  this  box  in  on  my  dresser  if  you're  going 
into  the  bedroom  ?  " 

The  two  girls  worked  rapidly  together,  and 
soon  had  cleared  away  the  piles  of  clothes  Jean 
had  deposited  upon  the  floor.  They  felt  so 
in  the  mood  for  cleaning  that  they  dusted  and 
put  to  rights  both  rooms  so  that  they  might 
look  presentable  during  their  absence.  As 
Jean  was  dusting  her  dresser  she  opened  the 
box  which  she  had  asked  Elizabeth  to  place 
there  and  after  examining  its  contents  care- 
fully she  said,  "  Elizabeth,  have  you  seen  any- 
thing of  my  coral  beads?  They  aren't  here 
with  my  other  things,  and  I'm  sure  I  had  them 


132   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

in  the  box.  I  wore  them  this  afternoon  to 
Bertha  Merrill's  tea  and  I  thought  I  put  them 
in  here  when  I  changed  my  dress.  Perhaps 
they're  mixed  up  with  some  of  the  things  we 
put  in  the  trunk.  I  think  I'll  look  around  a 
little  to-night,  for  they  must  be  somewhere  in 
the  room." 

Both  girls  searched  everywhere  they  knew 
of,  but  they  could  find  no  trace  of  the  beads. 
"  It's  the  strangest  thing  I  ever  heard  of,"  said 
Jean.  "  We  can't  do  much  until  after  vacation, 
for  every  one  will  go  away  to-morrow.  I'll 
put  a  notice  on  our  bulletin  board  and  report 
the  loss  to  —  who's  the  proctor  on  our  floor 
this  week  ?  " 

"Grace  Hooper,"  said  Elizabeth. 

"  Well,  I'll  run  down  to  her  room  a  minute 
and  tell  her  about  it  and  then  I'll  be  ready  to 
turn  in." 

When  she  returned  she  told  Elizabeth  that 
Grace  Hooper  and  Mary  Boynton  thought  it 
best  to  say  or  do  nothing  about  the  loss  of  the 
beads  until  college  began  again  Monday  morn- 
ing. Perhaps  by  that  time  the  beads  would 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      133 

have  been  found  and  they  would  be  saved  the 
unpleasant  duty  of  investigation. 

When  the  two  girls  stepped  into  the  train 
at  the  North  Station  the  next  day  they  found 
it  crowded  to  the  utmost  with  happy  travelers 
returning  home  for  the  holidays.  There  did 
not  seem  to  be  any  seats  together,  so  they 
stood  their  suit-cases  at  one  end  of  the  car 
and  perched  upon  them  to  wait  until  some  of 
the  passengers  should  alight  at  the  first  sta- 
tion. Several  of  the  college  girls  they  knew 
were  homeward  bound  on  the  same  train  and 
joined  them,  using  their  bulging  cases  as  seats. 
It  began  to  snow  lightly  soon  after  the  train 
started,  and  as  they  went  farther  north  they 
found  evidences  of  recent  snow  storms,  and 
when  they  reached  Wilton  Junction  they  found 
it  piled  up  in  great  drifts  round  the  station. 

As  they  alighted  from  the  train  they  looked 
in  vain  for  "  Brother  Dick  "  or  Dr.  Fairfax. 
"  Don.'t  be  alarmed,  Jean,  I  never  know  when 
any  one  will  meet  me.  You  see,  doctors  are 
likely  to  be  called  out  any  time  miles  and 
miles,  and  when  you've  got  only  one  horse  on 


134  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

the  place  you  get  used  to  waiting.  Let's  go 
into  the  station  and  keep  warm,  and  for  ex- 
citement we  can  get  weighed  or  read  the  time- 
tables on  the  wall." 

Huddled  round  a  great  old-fashioned  stove 
in  the  center  of  the  room  were  a  dozen  or  so 
people  waiting  for  belated  trains.  They  for- 
got the  cold  or  disappointment  at  missing  their 
train  when  they  saw  the  two  girls.  It  was  not 
often  they  had  such  a  good-looking  stranger 
as  Jean  Cabot  to  gaze  upon.  She  did  make  a 
picture  there  in  her  dingy  surroundings  with 
her  long  fur  coat  and  little  fur  turban  with 
two  iridescent  quills  stuck  jauntily  through  the 
front.  The  blackness  of  the  fur  as  it  rested 
against  her  hair  intensified  its  golden  hue  and 
the  fair  whiteness  of  her  skin. 

From  one  corner  where  he  apparently  had 
been  dozing  arose  a  long-legged,  lackadaisical- 
looking  fellow,  who  strolled  up  to  where  the 
two  girls  were  standing. 

"  Why,  how  d'ye  do,  Miss  Fairfax.  Home 
for  the  holidays  ?  "  was  his  greeting,  and  all 
the  time  he  was  stealing  glances  at  Jean.  Eliz- 
abeth coolly  replied  to  his  question  and  intro- 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      135 

duced  him  to  Jean.  He  hardly  had  time  for 
more  than  a  few  casual  remarks  before  Eliza- 
beth heard  some  sleigh-bells  and  going  to  the 
door  saw  her  father  outside  in  his  little  low 
sleigh.  "  May  I  call  on  you  before  you  re- 
turn to  college  ?  "  asked  the  young  man  as  he 
carried  their  heavy  suit-cases  to  the  waiting 
sleigh. 

"Why,  yes,  if  you  care  to,"  replied  Eliza- 
beth as  she  and  Jean  stepped  up  to  the  sleigh. 

"  Father,  I've  brought  my  room-mate,  Jean 
Cabot,  home  with  me  for  the  holidays.  She 
expected  to  go  to  New  York  to  visit  her  aunt, 
but  at  the  last  moment  she  had  to  give  it  up, 
as  her  aunt  was  sick.  I  know  you  are  always 
glad  to  welcome  one  more,  so  I  invited  her  up 
here." 

"Very  glad  to  know  you,  Jean.  Hope 
you'll  excuse  my  not  getting  out  to  help  you," 
said  Dr.  Fairfax,  "but  I'm  so  bundled  up  I 
don't  believe  I  could  ever  get  back  again  if  I 
once  got  out.  It's  been  a  terribly  cold  day  up 
our  way,  and  I  drove  ten  miles  the  other  side 
of  our  hill  before  I  came  down  for  you.  I've 
been  over  to  Judge  Morton's,  Elizabeth,  to  see 


136  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

his  mother.  She's  a  pretty  sick  woman,  and 
I  almost  doubt  if  I  can  pull  her  through  this 
time." 

"Oh,  that  accounts  for  Franklin  Morton's 
being  at  Wilton  Junction.  What  a  contempti- 
ble snob  that  fellow  is!  I've  seen  him  hun- 
dreds of  times  driving  through  the  village, 
and  have  known  him  ever  since  he  first  spent 
his  summers  at  Gorham,  but  he's  never  spoken 
five  words  to  me  until  to-night  when  he  saw 
the  prospect  of  meeting  Jean.  Did  you  hear 
him  ask  if  he  might  call  on  us?  I  imagine 
him  in  our  little  farmhouse!  Well,  I  guess 
we  needn't  borrow  trouble,  for  he  would  never 
come,  especially  as  his  grandmother  is  very 
sick. 

"  Now,  Father,  what  about  Dick  ?  I  hoped 
he  would  come  down  with  you  to  the  sta- 
tion." 

"Lucky  he  didn't  now,  isn't  it,  Jean,  for 
how  could  we  four  have  ridden  home  in  this 
little  sleigh?  Pretty  tight  squeeze  as  it  is. 
To  tell  you  the  truth,  dear,  I'm  a  little  wor- 
ried about  Richard's  case,  for  he  doesn't  seem 
to  get  his  strength  back  as  I  wish  he  would. 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      137 

Typhoid  does  pull  any  one  down  so,  it's  a  hard 
fight  to  get  back  again.  He's  been  a  wonder- 
fully patient  boy  through  it  all,  but  I  think 
sometimes  he  gets  discouraged  about  himself, 
although  he  never  says  anything  to  us.  I 
don't  know  what  he  would  do  without  your  let- 
ters, girl.  I  verily  believe  he  knows  them  all 
by  heart,  and  he  talks  about  your  friends  there 
as  though  they  were  his  own.  He'll  feel  right 
at  home  with  this  young  lady  here,  for  next 
to  you,  Elizabeth,  Jean  has  been  of  most  in- 
terest to  him,  and  he's  wondered  so  many 
times  if  he  could  ever  see  her. 

"  Here,  Jean,  is  where  we  begin  to  climb  our 
hill  at  the  top  of  which  is  our  little  village. 
I  think  now  that  it  has  stopped  snowing  the 
moon  will  soon  appear,  and  if  it  does  you  will 
see  one  of  the  finest  winter  pictures  I  know  of. 
I  ride  for  miles  and  miles  around  this  whole 
country,  but  I  know  of  no  more  beautiful 
views  than  this  hill  affords  us  in  winter  as 
well  as  in  summer. 

"  See,  there's  the  moon  peeping  behind  that 
cloud  now." 

Slowly  the  old  horse  pulled  his  heavy  load 


138  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

up  the  long  hill,  and  before  the  ascent  was 
half  made  the  full  moon  was  shining  brightly, 
shedding  its  beauty  over  the  snow-covered 
country.  Gaunt  trees  threw  long  black  shad- 
ows across  the  tiny  thread  of  a  road,  while 
here  and  there  were  deserted  buildings  almost 
hidden  from  view  by  the  great  drifts  of  snow. 
There  was  hardly  a  sound  but  the  tinkle  of 
their  own  sleigh-bells  and  the  crunching  of  the 
runners  on  the  snow.  Peace  and  quiet  and 
beauty  were  everywhere,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach. 

Jean  could  hardly  believe  her  eyes.  Here 
was  something  she  had  read  about  but  never 
seen,  and  the  wonder  of  it  threw  its  spell  over 
her.  Indeed,  all  three  became  gradually  silent, 
apparently  engrossed  with  their  own  thoughts, 
the  doctor  wondering  how  his  aged  patient 
was  rallying  under  the  treatment  he  had  sug- 
gested, Elizabeth,  deeply  troubled  by  her 
father's  words  about  her  brother,  and  Jean  lost 
in  contemplation  of  the  strange  and  wonderful 
scene  before  her. 

Jean  was  the  first  to  break  the  silence. 
"  Oh,  Elizabeth,  how  I  wish  Miss  Hooper  were 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     139 

riding  with  us  to-night!  About  two  weeks 
ago  when  I  was  walking  with  her  through  the 
Willows  she  said  she  wanted  me  to  go  there 
with  her  again  when  there  was  snow  on  the 
ground  and  a  moon,  for  it  is  so  beautiful. 
But  I  am  sure  nothing  could  be  as  wonderful 
as  this  hill  to-night.  I  wish  I  could  give  her 
a  good  description  of  its  beauty." 

"  Why  don't  you  write  to  her  while  you  are 
here  and  tell  her  about  it  ?  I  know  she  would 
appreciate  it,  for  she  told  me  she  was  to  stay 
at  Ashton  over  the  holidays." 

"  I  think  I  will  write  to  her  to-night  and 
tell  her  all  about  this  wonderful  ride.  It 
seems  now  as  if  I  could  ride  on  forever,  but  I 
see  lights  over  there,  so  we  must  be  approach- 
ing the  village.  Why,  it  seems  as  though  we 
were  on  top  of  the  world  up  here !  " 

"  We'll  be  home  in  half  an  hour,  Jean;  our 
house  is  right  over  there,"  and  Elizabeth 
pointed  to  a  little  group  of  lighted  houses  at 
her  right. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  reach  the  rambling 
old  farmhouse  where  Fairfaxes  had  lived  for 
the  last  hundred  and  fifty  years.  The  front 


I4o  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

door  was  opened  as  the  sleigh  turned  into  the 
yard  and  a  fresh  young  voice  rang  out : 

"  Welcome  home,  Sister !  Hurry  up  and 
come  in,  for  I  am  tired  of  waiting  for  you.  I 
thought  you'd  never  get  here." 

The  doctor  warned  the  owner  of  the  voice 
not  to  stand  longer  in  the  cold,  and  so  he  dis- 
appeared from  view.  It  did  not  take  the  girls 
long  to  get  into  the  house  and  reach  the  blaz- 
ing fire  in  the  huge  fireplace.  Mrs.  Fairfax 
greeted  them  cordially  and  then  brother  and 
sister  were  in  each  others'  arms.  Then  in  a 
moment  Elizabeth  introduced  Jean,  and  after 
one  look  at  her  Richard  burst  out,  "  You're 
just  as  I  thought  you'd  be.  Wishes  do  come 
true.  All  the  afternoon  I've  been  wishing 
you'd  come  up  here  on  our  hilltop  with  Sis- 
ter to  visit  us  instead  of  going  to  New  York 
to  visit  your  aunt.  Now  take  off  your  things 
and  let's  have  supper." 

When  the  doctor  came  into  the  living-room 
it  was  the  signal  to  repair  to  the  dining-room, 
where  a  steaming  supper  awaited  them.  Jean 
thought  she  had  never  tasted  anything  as  good 
in  all  her  life,  and  as  the  cold  ride  had  whetted 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      141 

her  ordinarily  good  appetite  she  did  justice  to 
everything  Mrs.  Fairfax  had  prepared.  As 
often  as  she  dared  she  stole  glances  at  Rich- 
ard Fairfax  and  she  thought  she  had  never  be- 
fore seen  such  an  attractive  although  pathetic 
face.  It  was  deathly  white,  with  almost  per- 
fect features,  but  one  could  never  forget  the 
eyes.  They  were  deep-set  and  dark  and  bril- 
liant, but  when  he  spoke  or  was  interested 
when  some  one  else  was  speaking  they  fairly 
seemed  to  flash  fire. 

The  conversation  at  table  was  general,  and 
when  they  arose  Dick  suggested  that  they  sit 
round  the  fireplace  in  the  living-room  and  he 
would  draw  the  couch  up  and  lie  upon  it,  for 
he  was  much  more  comfortable  there  than  in 
the  hard,  stiff-backed  chairs.  Mrs.  Fairfax 
and  Elizabeth  went  into  the  kitchen  to  wash 
the  dishes  and  make  the  last  preparations  for 
the  morrow's  dinner,  while  Jean  and  Richard 
and  Dr.  Fairfax  made  themselves  comfortable 
before  the  blazing  wood  fire. 

"  Let's  not  have  a  light  at  first,  Father," 
said  Richard ;  "  I  love  the  firelight  best  and  I 
think  Jean  will,  too,  after  she  sees  how  nice 


142   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

it  is.  Now,  Father,  will  you  please  recite  us 
your  poem  about  the  firelight  ?  " 

In  his  pleasing,  deep-toned  voice  Dr.  Fair- 
fax gave  the  simple  two-versed  poem  he  had 
written  on  the  firelight,  and  when  he  finished 
Dick  pleaded,  "  Oh,  don't  stop,  Father,  please 
give  us  all  my  favorites,  it's  just  the  night  for 
poetry."  And  one  poem  followed  another  un- 
til the  doctor  insisted  that  it  was  some  one 
else's  turn. 

"  Now,  Jean,"  said  Richard,  "  won't  you 
give  us  something  you  have  learned  at  col- 
lege?" 

"  Oh,  I  can't.  I  don't  know  any  poems. 
I've  never  learned  them." 

"  What,  never  learned  poetry  ?  Don't  you 
love  it?  Why,  I  think  there's  nothing  in  all 
the  world  to  compare  with  it.  I  spend  hours 
and  hours  reading  my  favorite  poets  until  I 
know  their  best  poems  by  heart.  I  wish  I 
could  write  myself.  I  mean  to  some  day 
if — "  but  his  voice  broke  and  Dr.  Fairfax 
said,  "  Perhaps,  Jean,  before  you  go,  Richard 
will  let  you  read  some  of  his  own  poems.  He's 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     143 

a  little  particular  who  hears  them,  but  possibly 
you  can  persuade  him  to  let  you  read  them. 
I've  got  to  go  out  to  the  barn  now  to  lock  up 
for  the  night,  so  I'll  leave  you  here  together  a 
little  while.  I  fear  it's  been  a  hard  day  for 
Jean  and  Elizabeth,  so  we  mustn't  keep  them 
up  too  late.  But  doesn't  it  seem  good,  Dickie- 
boy,  to  have  them  here?  It's  really  living 
again." 

Left  to  themselves  the  two  talked  together, 
mostly  about  Jean's  life  in  California.  Just 
as  she  was  in  the  midst  of  a  description  of  a 
camping  trip  in  the  mountains  Elizabeth  hur- 
ried into  the  room.  "  What  are  you  two  talk- 
ing about  so  excitedly?  Don't  you  want  the 
lamp  lighted  now  and  some  more  wood  put  on 
the  fire?  It's  almost  out.  I  came  in  to  ask 
Jean  if  she  would  like  to  go  out  into  the 
kitchen  to  see  the  turkeys  and  the  other  prep- 
arations, but  you're  having  such  a  good  time 
I  hate  to  disturb  you." 

"  Oh,  I  can  finish  this  another  time,  Eliza- 
beth; I'd  like  to  go  with  you." 

When  Jean  saw  the  size  of  the  turkeys  and 


144  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

the  quantities  of  other  things  piled  up  on  the 
tables  she  exclaimed,  "  Why  such  an  amount 
of  food?  We'll  never  eat  that  in  a  week." 

"  Wait  till  you  see  all  there  are  to  eat  it  and 
you  won't  think  this  is  too  much.  I'll  wager 
there  won't  be  anything  worth  eating  left  over 
by  Friday.  I  think  I'm  about  ready  for  bed, 
Jean.  How  about  you?  " 

"  Quite  ready,  thank  you.  Is  it  late  ?  I've 
lost  all  track  of  time." 

"  Yes,  it's  nearly  twelve  o'clock.  It  will  be 
very  cold  up  in  our  room,  although  I've  lighted 
a  fire  in  the  stove,  so  I  think  we'd  better  take 
up  these  freestones  to  keep  our  feet  warm. 
Let's  go  in  and  say  good-night  to  father  and 
Dick." 

When  the  lights  were  out  and  Jean  was 
thinking  over  the  events  of  the  day  she  could 
not  but  admit  to  herself  that  she  had  come 
into  the  midst  of  a  family  life  wholly  unknown 
to  her  before.  She  recognized  a  depth  and 
earnestness  that  were  lacking  in  most  of  the 
families  with  whom  she  was  acquainted.  Al- 
though she  saw  evidences  of  the  lack  of  this 
world's  goods,  there  was  a  certain  refinement 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS      145 

and  culture  and  an  appreciation  of  the  things 
that  make  life  worth  while.  She  began  to 
realize  a  little  the  absence  of  purpose  in  her 
own  life,  and  she  saw  for  the  first  time  what 
she  might  do  with  all  that  was  hers  to  use. 

Thanksgiving  morning  was  not  as  cold  as 
the  preceding  ones  and  gave  promise  of  a 
pleasant  day.  The  family  arose  early  in  spite 
of  the  late  hour  of  their  retiring,  and  at  break- 
fast Dr.  Fairfax  suggested  that  they  all  attend 
the  Thanksgiving  service  in  the  Congregational 
Church.  "  By  the  way,  Elizabeth,"  he  said, 
"  Mrs.  Walton  wants  to  know  if  you  will  play 
the  organ  to-day.  She  hurt  her  wrist  yester- 
day and  won't  be  able  to  play  for  several 
weeks.  She  would  like  to  have  you  sing  a 
solo,  too,  if  you  can  get  some  one  to  play  for 
you." 

Elizabeth  blushed  a  little  and  Jean  said, 
"  Why,  Elizabeth,  I  never  knew  you  could 
play  and  sing.  Why  haven't  you  said  some- 
thing about  it  at  college?  " 

"  There  were  always  so  many  others  who 
did  things  better  than  I  that  I  didn't  think  any 
one  wanted  me.  I  only  play  and  sing  a  little, 


i46  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

but  it  helps  out  here  where  there  are  so  few 
to  do  anything.  Will  you  play  my  accompani- 
ment if  I  sing  this  morning?  " 

"  I  have  never  played  on  an  organ  in  my 
life,  Elizabeth." 

"  But  there  is  a  piano,  too,  which  we  use 
in  the  Sunday  school,  and  you  can  play  that." 

"  Why,  yes,  if  you'd  like  to  have  me,  but 
we'd  better  practise  together  before  the  service 
begins." 

"  Yes,  let's  go  into  the  other  room  now  and 
run  over  one  or  two  selections." 

At  ten  o'clock  the  five  took  their  places  in 
the  big  double-seated  sleigh  and  started  for 
the  church,  a  half-mile  down  the  road.  Many 
a  sleigh  heavily  loaded  with  old  and  young 
passed  them,  and  it  did  not  take  long  for  some 
one  to  discover  Elizabeth  and  welcome  her 
home.  "  Why,"  said  Jean,  "  you  know  every- 
body, Elizabeth." 

"  Yes,  it  isn't  hard  in  a  little  town  like  this, 
especially  when  one's  father  is  the  only  doc- 
tor. I've  driven  with  him  ever  since  I  can 
remember." 

They  stopped  before  a  severe  white  church 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     147 

on  slightly  elevated  ground.  Dr.  Fairfax 
helped  the  others  to  alight  and  then  drove  the 
horse  around  to  the  sheds  in  back  of  the 
church. 

Elizabeth  and  Jean  went  immediately  to  the 
choir  loft,  where  they  were  welcomed  by  the 
few  singers  that  had  already  arrived.  It 
seemed  to  Jean  as  though  most  of  them  were 
Elizabeth's  cousins,  of  one  degree  or  another, 
and  she  began  to  believe  that  everybody  in 
town  was  related  to  everybody  else.  When 
the  congregation  began  to  take  their  places, 
Jean  took  a  seat  in  the  audience  near  the  up- 
right piano,  which  occupied  most  of  the  space 
to  the  right  of  the  pulpit. 

The  church  was  old  and  severe  in  every  line, 
evidently  built  in  the  early  days  when  worship 
did  not  demand  comfortable  surroundings. 
The  pews  were  high  and  narrow,  with  faded 
red  cushions  and  stools.  By  a  quarter  of 
eleven  every  pew  was  filled  and  the  old  white- 
haired  preacher  began  the  service.  Jean 
watched  Elizabeth  at  the  organ  and  marveled 
at  the  melody  she  seemed  to  be  getting  out  of 
the  wheezy  old  instrument,  which  was  pumped 


148  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

intermittently  by  a  rosy-cheeked  youngster 
whose  mind  may  have  been  more  on  the  feast 
awaiting  him  at  home  than  on  the  hymns  of 
praise.  When  it  came  Elizabeth's  turn  to 
sing,  she  left  the  organ  and  stood  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  choir-loft  and  waited  for  Jean  to 
strike  the  opening  chords  on  the  piano.  Al- 
though Jean  was  a  skilled  performer  on  the 
piano  it  must  be  confessed  that  she  trembled 
a  little  as  she  began  to  play,  but  when  Eliza- 
beth's sweet  voice  broke  into  song  it  gave  her 
confidence,  and  it  seemed  the  most  natural 
thing  in  the  world  for  Elizabeth  to  be  singing 
and  she  to  be  playing  in  the  little  village  church 
at  Newburgh. 

She  never  remembered  much  that  the  old 
preacher  said  in  his  eloquent  sermon,  for  dur- 
ing it  all  she  seemed  to  be  in  somewhat  of  a 
haze,  but  afterward  she  summed  it  up  in  three 
thoughts :  the  blessedness  of  home ;  the  joy  of 
the  home-coming;  and  the  satisfaction  of  the 
parents  in  knowing  that  their  children  have 
found  life  worth  while  and  are  making  some- 
thing out  of  it. 

There  was  a  general  handshaking  after  the 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     149 

benediction,  and  before  she  left  Jean  thought 
she  knew  every  person  in  the  church.  It  did 
not  take  her  long  to  see  how  interested  every 
one  was  in  Elizabeth,  and  how  glad  they  were 
to  have  her  with  them  again.  She  had  a  pleas- 
ant greeting  for  them  all,  and  never  forgot  to 
ask  about  the  ones  left  at  home. 

As  they  drew  up  into  the  Fairfax  yard 
again  they  found  sleighs,  single  and  double, 
already  there  and  more  following  them. 

"You  see,  Jean,  it's  our  turn  this  year  to 
have  the  relatives  at  our  house,"  said  Dr.  Fair- 
fax. "  Ours  is  a  pretty  big  family,  and  we're 
counting  on  twenty  or  thereabouts  to-day. 
Everybody  helps  and  '  many  hands  make  light 
work/  you  know.  You  must  feel  that  you're 
one  of  the  family  to-day,  Jean,  for  we're  al- 
ways glad  of  one  more." 

There  were  twenty-six  to  sit  down  to  the 
Thanksgiving  dinner,  nineteen  at  the  large  ta- 
ble and  seven  children  at  a  little  one  placed  in 
the  kitchen.  Jean  decided  that  she  had  never 
before  seen  such  quantities  of  food,  for  in  ad- 
dition to  the  preparations  Mrs.  Fairfax  had 
made,  every  one  of  the  guests  had  contributed 


1 50      JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

what  he  thought  to  be  his  share.  There  were 
turkeys  and  chickens,  vegetables  of  all  kinds, 
puddings,  pies,  cakes,  fruit,  nuts,  and  candy 
passed  and  repassed  until  all  declared  they 
could  eat  no  more. 

After  dinner  there  were  games  and  music 
and  the  children  went  outdoors  to  slide. 
About  six  o'clock  Mrs.  Fairfax  suggested  sup- 
per, but  she  could  find  no  one  inclined  to  eat 
except  the  children,  who  came  in  hungry  again 
after  their  vigorous  exercise.  Some  of  the 
families  having  a  long  distance  to  ride  felt 
obliged  to  leave  at  seven,  and  from  then  until 
ten  o'clock  there  was  a  general  departure. 
When  the  last  sleigh  drove  out  of  the  yard 
Elizabeth  dropped  into  her  father's  old  arm- 
chair with,  "  Oh,  I'm  tired,  but  wasn't  it  splen- 
did?" 

The  next  two  days  were  filled  with  happy 
experiences  for  Jean.  She  coasted  on  a  neigh- 
boring hill,  drove  over  to  "  Aunty  "  Wilbur's 
for  a  "  left  over  "  Thanksgiving  dinner,  went 
down  to  Cousin  Mary  Fairfax's  to  a  candy- 
pull,  and  helped  Elizabeth  in  her  household  du- 
ties. She  fairly  reveled  in  the  outdoor  life 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     151 

and  the  beauty  of  the  hilltop,  and  declared  that 
for  the  first  time  since  she  had  left  California 
was  she  really  living.  Before  she  realized  it, 
Saturday  night  came  and  the  visit  was  almost 
at  an  end. 

After  supper,  Jean  and  Dick  found  them- 
selves alone  again  before  the  fireplace  and  Dick 
asked  that  she  finish  her  story  of  the  camp  in 
the  mountains  which  had  been  interrupted 
Wednesday  evening.  When  she  finished  the 
narrative,  she  timidly  asked  Dick  if  he  would 
read  her  some  of  his  poems. 

"  No,  I'll  not  read  them  to  you,  but  I'll  recite 
them  to  you  if  you  care  to  have  me."  In  his 
sweet,  low  voice,  very  similar  to  his  father's,  he 
recited  one  after  another  of  his  poems,  short 
little  things,  to  be  sure,  but  full  of  feeling  and 
the  promise  of  what  was  to  come  later  on. 

"  Splendid,"  said  Jean,  when  he  had  fin- 
ished ;  "  I  know  you're  going  to  make  some- 
thing of  this  gift,  aren't  you?  " 

"  Yes,  if  I  ever  have  an  opportunity.  I 
want  to  study  and  have  the  best  education  it's 
possible  to  get.  Since  I've  had  the  fever  I've 
wondered  if  I  shall  ever  get  to  college.  I'm 


152  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

not  nearly  as  strong  as  I  used  to  be,  and  some- 
times it  seems  as  if  I  never  would  be  again, 
but  I  must  live,  I  must  amount  to  something. 
I've  got  too  much  to  live  for  to  give  up  now." 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  your  edu- 
cation, Richard  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  yet,  Jean,  but  a  man  can  do 
anything  if  he's  educated.  Then  the  whole 
world's  open  to  him,  but  when  he's  not  it  closes 
its  heavy  gates  to  him  and  he  can  beat  against 
them  in  vain.  What  are  you  fitting  yourself 
for,  Jean?" 

"  Why,  Dick,  I'm  almost  ashamed  to  tell 
you.  I've  never  thought  anything  about  the 
real  purpose  of  college.  I  came  to  Ashton  be- 
cause my  father  and  brothers  thought  it  the 
best  place  for  me  to  go.  I'm  only  going  to 
be  there  one  year,  and  after  that  I  think  I'll 
study  music.  So  far  this  year  I've  amounted 
to  nothing;  I  haven't  done  any  studying  and 
received  two  faculty  warnings.  That's  pretty 
serious,  you  know,  but  I'm  going  back  Monday 
morning  with  the  firm  determination  to  do 
something.  You  and  Elizabeth  are  an  inspira- 
tion to  me  and  I'm  not  going  to  waste  any 


"  I  DON'T  KNOW  YET,  JEAN,  BUT  A  MAN  CAN  DO  ANYTHING  IF 
HE'S  EDUCATED." — Page  152. 


THANKSGIVING  HOLIDAYS     153 

longer  the  opportunities  that  are  waiting  for 
me.  And  don't  you  get  discouraged  and  wor- 
ried about  not  going  to  college.  You're  going, 
I  know  you  are,  and  next  year,  too.  I've  made 
up  my  mind  to  that,  and  in  the  meantime  I 
shall  need  lots  of  encouragement  as  an  inspira- 
tion from  you  on  your  hilltop.  You'll  never 
know  all  that  this  visit  has  meant  to  me,  and 
I  thank  you  all  for  taking  me  right  into  your 
family.  This  is  a  secret  for  us  alone,  Dick. 
Please  don't  say  anything  about  it  to  the  others, 
for  maybe  they  wouldn't  understand,  but  here's 
my  hand  on  it,  Dick.  You've  my  promise  that 
from  now  on  I'll  make  something  more  of 
myself." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   CORAL   BEADS 

MONDAY  morning  at  half-past  eleven 
o'clock  Jean  reported  at  the  office  in 
answer  to  the  summons  she  had  re- 
ceived.    The  clerk,  Miss  Stetson,  led  her  into 
the  dean's  private  office  and  there  she  found 
Miss  Thurston  awaiting  her.     As  yet  Jean  had 
met  her  only  in  a  social  way  and  she  felt  a 
little  ashamed  at  the  thought  of  what  brought 
her  there. 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  Cabot.  Take  this 
chair  here  by  the  window.  I  have  a  little  mat- 
ter to  talk  over  with  you.  I  find  you  have  cut 
Chapel  ten  times  since  the  opening  of  college, 
which  is  altogether  too  many  times.  Do  you 
realize  that  only  thirteen  cuts  are  allowed  for 
the  whole  first  semester?  Chapel-cutting  is  a 
very  serious  offense  here  and  I  hope  I  shall  not 
have  to  speak  to  you  about  it  again.  And  then 
in  the  matter  of  gymnasium,  Miss  Matthews 
154 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  155 

reports  an  utter  lack  of  interest  on  your  part 
in  the  classes  and  frequent  absences.  Gym- 
nasium is  required  work  and  should  be  com- 
pleted satisfactorily  freshman  year.  I'm 
afraid,  Miss  Cabot,  that  you  are  not  taking  col- 
lege seriously  enough." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  Miss  Thurston ;  I  have 
not  taken  it  seriously  enough  in  the  past,  but 
from  now  on  I  intend  to  go  at  things  differ- 
ently. I  do  not  think  you  will  ever  need  to 
call  me  here  again.  I'm  sure  I  shall  never  be 
an  honor  pupil,  but  I  mean  to  do  the  best  that's 
in  me.  It  will  be  hard  work,  for  I  have  prac- 
tically all  the  work  of  the  past  three  months  to 
make  up  besides  a  condition  in  French  to  re- 
move." 

"  Yes,  it  will  be  hard,  Miss  Cabot,  but  I 
have  the  confidence  that  you  can  do  it  if  you've 
made  up  your  mind  to  it.  That's  all  for  to- 
day, thank  you." 

As  Jean  left  the  office  she  started  off  in  the 
direction  of  the  library.  There  were  some 
references  in  English  literature  which  she 
wanted  to  look  up  as  soon  as  possible.  To 
tell  the  truth,  it  was  the  first  time  she  had  been 


156  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

to  the  library  except  the  evening  she  had  res- 
cued Elizabeth  from  spending  the  night  there, 
and  she  knew  nothing  about  the  system. 
However,  she  found  Natalie  Lawton  in  the 
magazine  room  and  told  her  what  she  wanted. 

"  Why,  Jean,  aren't  you  getting  rather  studi- 
ous all  of  a  sudden?  Come  right  over  here 
into  the  English  department.  You  can  take 
any  of  the  books  down  to  read  here,  or  if  you 
want  to  take  books  home  for  a  week's  use  ask 
the  librarian  for  a  card  and  have  the  book 
charged.  I  always  prefer  to  do  my  hard 
studying  in  my  room,  for  there  are  so  many 
girls  down  here  talking  and  walking  round  that 
I  can't  ever  get  my  mind  on  what  I'm  reading. 
After  you  get  your  books  I  want  to  talk  to  you 
a  minute  about  basket-ball.  When  you're 
ready,  come  out  to  the  desk  and  I'll  help 
you." 

After  Jean  found  the  two  books  she  needed 
and  had  obtained  permission  to  keep  them  a 
week  she  and  Natalie  left  the  building  and 
strolled  slowly  up  to  Merton.  "  I  wonder  if 
you've  ever  thought  about  athletics  at  college, 
Jean.  I  think  you  ought  to  make  something, 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  157 

sure.  It's  up  to  you  to  choose  what  appeals 
most  to  you  and  try  for  all  you're  worth  to 
make  it.  Every  girl  ought  to  do  something  for 
her  college  and  her  class,  and  it's  only  the  ex- 
ceptional girl  that  can  do  more  than  one  thing 
well.  Some  make  the  glee  club,  some  basket- 
ball, some  the  crew,  some  the  track  team,  and 
some  tennis.  I've  been  thinking  it  over  lately 
and  I've  decided  that  you're  just  the  sort  for 
basket-ball.  If  you  don't  make  the  college  team 
perhaps  you  can  make  the  1915  team,  and  its 
really  more  fun  to  make  that  than  the  other, 
for  the  freshman-sophomore  basket-ball  game 
is  the  biggest  thing  of  the  year.  Basket-ball 
practice  begins  this  week  and  I  want  to  see  you 
out  Wednesday  afternoon.  Next  to  tennis, 
basket-ball  is  the  very  best  sport  I  know  of. 
You've  got  to  try  for  tennis,  too,  in  the  spring, 
but  that's  a  long  way  off.  Will  you  go  out  for 
basket-ball?" 

"  Yes,  Natalie,  if  I  have  the  time,  but  I've 
got  to  devote  myself  a  little  more  to  study  from 
now  on,  so  don't  expect  me  to  practise  very 
often.  I'll  make  an  awful  try,  for  I've  always 
wanted  to  be  able  to  play  basket-ball.  I've 


158  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

never  been  in  a  game  in  my  life,  so  of  course 
I  couldn't  hope  to  make  anything." 

"Lots  of  girls  make  the  teams  who  have 
never  played  till  they  came  here.  It's  good 
hard  practice  does  it.  To  change  the  subject, 
what  kind  of  a  time  did  you  have  in  New 
York?" 

"  I  didn't  go.  Tuesday  night  I  got  a  tele- 
gram from  Tom  saying  my  aunt  was  sick  and 
our  visit  was  all  off." 

"  But  you  didn't  stay  at  college,  did  you?  " 

"  No ;  I  went  home  with  Elizabeth  and  had  a 
perfectly  wonderful  time.  I've  never  been  in 
the  country  before,  and  of  course  there  was 
something  new  for  me  to  do  all  the  time.  And 
she  has  the  nicest  family  I've  ever  met.  None 
of  us  here  at  college  half  appreciate  Elizabeth. 
I  have  discovered  lots  of  things  about  her  that 
I  never  would  have  dreamed  of,  and  I  think 
you  other  girls  will,  too,  as  you  come  to  know 
her.  Are  you  going  right  in  to  supper  or  will 
you  come  up  to  my  room  while  I  brush  up  a 
bit?" 

"  I  think  I'll  just  stop  a  minute  in  Clare  An- 
derson's room  to  help  her  a  little  on  her  al- 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  159 

gebra.  She  asked  me  this  noon  if  I'd  go  in 
before  supper.  Poor  little  thing,  she's  having 
a  terrible  struggle  with  it  and  I  pity  her  from 
the  bottom  of  my  heart.  You  ought  to  thank 
your  lucky  stars  that  you're  not  taking  mathe- 
matics. Here  we  are  at  her  room.  See  you 
later,"  and  the  two  girls  parted  on  the  second 
floor. 

After  supper  it  was  Jean's  turn  to  play  for 
the  dancing,  so  Marjorie  Remington  did  not 
have  an  opportunity  to  talk  to  her,  although 
she  had  tried  to  ever  since  dinner.  The  min- 
ute Jean  arose  from  the  piano  Marjorie  hurried 
up  to  her  and  asked  her  to  come  up  to  her  room 
for  a  few  moments.  "  I  hear  you  didn't  go 
to  New  York  after  all,  Jean,  but  to  your  room- 
mate's instead,"  said  Midge,  after  they  were 
comfortably  seated  in  47.  "  What  possessed 
you  to  spend  five  perfectly  good  days  with  that 
stick?  You  knew  I  was  going  to  be  in  Boston 
at  my  aunt's  and  would  love  to  have  you  with 
me.  I  should  think  you  would  have  thought 
of  that  and  come  and  told  me.  I  never  en- 
joyed myself  more  in  all  my  life.  Jack  cer- 
tainly outdid  himself  to  give  me  a  good  time. 


160  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  What  on  earth  could  you  find  to  do  up  in 
the  country  with  Elizabeth?  I  think  I'd  pre- 
fer staying  in  my  room  here  for  a  vacation  to 
having  to  visit  with  such  a  little,  insignificant 
goody-good  as  she  is." 

Jean  had  listened  as  long  as  she  could,  and 
she  stood  up  and  started  for  the  door,  saying, 
"  Marjorie,  Elizabeth  is  my  room-mate  and 
I  love  her  dearly  and  shall  not  stay  here  a  min- 
ute longer  to  hear  you  abuse  her.  Unless  you 
are  willing  to  show  her  some  respect  I  do  not 
care  for  your  friendship,"  and  she  walked  out 
into  the  hall. 

"Jean,  pardon  me,"  said  Marjorie,  hasten- 
ing after  her,  "  I  didn't  realize  you  two 
were  such  great  friends.  When  did  all  this 
happen?  Must  have  been  rather  sudden.  By 
the  way,  have  you  found  your  coral  beads  ?  " 

"  Why,  Marjorie,  how  did  you  know  I'd  lost 
them?" 

"  Oh,  I  heard  all  about  it.  A  little  bird  told 
me,"  said  Marjorie,  as  she  shut  the  door  into 
her  room. 

When  Jean  entered  her  own  room  she  found 
Elizabeth  waiting  for  her.  She  was  sitting  at 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  161 

her  desk  and  held  in  one  hand  Jean's  coral 
beads. 

"  Oh,  Jean,  what  do  you  think !  I've  found 
your  coral  beads,  but  in  the  queerest  place.  I 
just  went  to  my  desk  to  get  my  fountain  pen 
which  I  keep  in  the  little  drawer  at  the  right, 
and  there  were  the  beads.  How  do  you  sup- 
pose they  got  there  ?  Some  one  must  have  put 
them  there,  but  you  don't  believe  I  did  it,  do 
you?" 

"  No,  indeed,  Elizabeth.  You'd  be  the  last 
person  in  the  world  to  put  them  there." 

Without  another  word  Jean  turned  and  al- 
most ran  up  to  Grace  Hooper's  room  and  for- 
tunately found  her  alone.  "  Gracie,  did  you 
tell  any  one  besides  Mary  Boynton  about  my 
losing  my  beads?  " 

"  No,  Jean ;  don't  you  know  we  decided  it 
was  best  to  say  nothing  about  it.  Have  you 
found  them  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they  were  only  misplaced,  so  please 
don't  say  anything  more  about  it  to  any- 
body. I'm  glad  now  that  I  didn't  put  up  a 
notice  on  the  bulletin  board;  it  would  have 
caused  so  much  talk.  Good-by.  I  can't  stop; 


1 62      JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

I've  a  lot  of  studying  to  do,"  and  she  hurried 
on  to  Mary  Boynton's  room,  where  she  found 
Mary  and  her  room-mate  hard  at  their  lessons 
for  the  next  day. 

"  Please  excuse  me,  Ethel,  if  I  take  Mary 
out  in  the  hall  to  whisper  to  her  a  moment." 
When  they  shut  the  door  behind  them  Jean 
began  excitedly,  "  Mary  Boynton,  did  you  tell 
any  one  besides  Grace  Hooper  about  my  losing 
my  coral  beads  ?  I've  found  them  again ;  they 
were  only  misplaced,  and  I'm  sorry  I  bothered 
you  about  them.  Did  you  tell  any  of  the 
girls?" 

"  No,  Jean ;  to  tell  you  the  honest  truth,  I 
haven't  thought  about  the  matter  since  Tues- 
day night.  You  were  coming  to  me  Monday 
morning  if  you  didn't  find  them,  and  when 
you  didn't  appear  I  decided  you'd  found  them." 

"  Well,  please  don't  say  or  think  anything 
more  about  the  matter.  Sorry  to  have  taken 
you  from  your  studying.  Did  you  have  a 
pleasant  vacation  ?  " 

"Yes;  I  went  home  with  Ethel.  Come  up 
and  see  us  when  you  can  stay  longer.  Good 
night." 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  163 

Jean  hastened  down  the  corridor  and  up  the 
stairs  and  along  fourth  floor  until  she  came 
to  Marjorie  Remington's  room.  She  hesitated 
a  moment  at  the  door  and  then  hearing  no 
voices  she  knocked.  Marjorie  appeared  and 
looked  a  little  surprised  to  see  Jean  back  so 
soon,  but  she  motioned  her  to  a  comfortable 
rocker  and  offered  her  a  plate  of  fudge  which 
looked  as  if  it  had  just  been  made.  Jean  re- 
fused the  chair  and  the  candy  and  stood  per- 
fectly still  in  the  center  of  the  room,  without 
saying  a  word.  Marjorie,  to  relieve  the  sit- 
uation, said,  "  I'm  glad  you've  come  back,  Jean. 
Can't  you  sit  down  and  talk  to  me?  I'm  aw- 
fully lonesome  to-night." 

"  No ;  I  can  only  stay  a  moment,  Marjorie. 
I  came  in  to  tell  you  that  I've  found  my  coral 
beads  and  to  ask  you  why  you  put  them  in 
Elizabeth's  desk." 

"  Why,  Jean,  what  do  you  mean  ?  What 
have  I  got  to  do  with  your  coral  beads?  I 
don't  understand  what  you're  talking  about." 

"  Well,  if  you  will  not  answer  my  first  ques- 
tion, will  you  tell  me  who  told  you  I  had  lost 
my  beads  ?  " 


164  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  I  did  tell  you  it  was  a  little  bird,"  answered 
Marjorie,  laughingly. 

"  This  is  no  time  for  joking,  Marjorie.  I 
ask  you  once  more  to  explain  it  to  me." 

"And  if  I  refuse?" 

"Well,  if  you  refuse  I  shall  give  you  my 
explanation." 

"  Very  well,  your  explanation  then." 

"  For  some  reason  all  the  year  you  have  dis- 
liked my  room-mate  and  have  tried  to  make 
her  uncomfortable  on  every  possible  occasion. 
Lately  you  seem  to  have  had  the  same  feeling 
towards  me.  When  you  were  talking  to  me 
last  Tuesday  evening  as  I  was  packing,  you 
must  have  taken  my  coral  beads  when  I  went 
into  the  bedroom  to  get  my  opera  coat,  and 
sometime  later,  probably  on  Sunday,  before  we 
arrived  home,  you  put  them  in  Elizabeth's  desk 
to  point  suspicion  towards  her.  Fortunately  I 
have  come  to  know  Elizabeth  so  much  better 
these  last  few  days  than  all  the  rest  of  the  term 
that  I  am  sure  stealing  is  the  very  last  thing 
she  would  resort  to.  It  is  true  that  she  is  poor 
and  has  none  of  the  things  that  you  and  I  have, 
in  abundance,  but  she  is  honest  and  conscien- 


THE  CORAL  BEADS  165 

tious,  and  kind  to  every  one  with  whom  she 
comes  in  contact.  No  one  knows  what  I  have 
just  told  you  but  ourselves,  and  I  ask  you  now 
to  tell  me  why  you  did  such  a  thing.  You  may 
be  perfectly  sure  that  I  never  shall  say  any- 
thing about  it  if  you  will  promise  never  to  do 
such  a  thing  again." 

"  Well,  Jean,  you're  a  regular  old  Sherlock 
Holmes.  There  isn't  very  much  for  me  to  say 
now.  It's  pretty  much  as  you've  said.  I  did 
take  the  beads  and  put  them  in  Elizabeth's  desk 
because  I  wanted  you  to  believe  she  stole  them. 
I've  never  liked  her  from  the  first  time  I  saw 
her.  I  was  provoked  that  she  broke  up  our 
plans  for  the  first  night  at  college  by  coming 
in  late.  I'm  jealous,  horribly  jealous,  and  I 
didn't  want  her  to  be  your  friend.  I  was  dis- 
appointed because  you  didn't  join  Gamma 
Belt.  I've  wanted  you  all  along  for  my  best 
friend,  and  I  saw  I  was  gradually  losing  you. 
I  haven't  many  friends  and  I  couldn't  stand 
yours.  That's  all.  What  do  you  think  of  me 
now?" 

Jean  answered  very  slowly,  "  I'm  very  sorry, 
Marjorie.  I  had  hoped  from  the  first  that  we 


166  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

might  be  good  friends.  You  were  kind  to  me 
and  seemed  like  a  girl  after  my  own  heart. 
We  still  can  be  friends,  I  hope,  but  you  must 
not  injure  me  or  any  of  my  friends.  We'll 
forget  this  incident  and  begin  over  again  if 
you  say  so." 

"  All  right,  Jean.  Thank  you  for  your  kind- 
ness. I'm  afraid  I  don't  deserve  it.  You  see 
what  a  nasty  disposition  I've  got,  but  I'll  try 
to  conquer  it  in  the  future.  Now  won't  you 
stay  a  while?  I  want  to  tell  you  about  my 
good  times  in  Boston." 

"No;  not  to-night,  Marjorie;  I'm  going  to 
study,  but  some  other  time  I'll  be  glad  to  hear 
all  about  it  Good  night."  And  then  Jean 
opened  her  own  door  and  said  to  Elizabeth, 
"  Now,  dear,  I'm  ready  for  the  German  les- 
son." 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE   CHAFING-DISH    PARTY 

**TT"MJZABETH,  have  the  girls  an- 
nounced  the  date  of  the  French 
play?" 

"  Yes,  I  think  it's  December  eighteenth,  the 
Wednesday  night  before  college  closes.  Of 
course  you're  going?" 

"  Yes,  and  I've  been  thinking  I'd  invite  Con- 
stance Huntington  out  for  the  play  and  have 
a  rabbit  afterward.  I  haven't  made  anything 
but  fudge  in  my  chafing-dish  since  I  bought  it, 
and  it's  about  time  I  did.  We  could  have  ten 
or  twelve  of  the  girls  in  after  the  play  and  get 
permission  to  stay  up  a  little  later  than  usual. 
I  think  I'll  write  Connie  to-day  and  invite  her 
out  Would  you  mind  sleeping  with  Anne 
Cockran  that  night  so  Connie  could  have  your 
bed?" 

"Why,  of  course  not,  Jean;  I'd  be  glad  to 
167 


168   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

do  it  and  anything  else  I  can  to  help  you. 
Who's  in  the  play?" 

"  I  don't  know  many  of  them,  but  Peggy 
Allison  is  to  be  a  man  and  Alice  Cunningham's 
got  the  star  girl's  part.  They  say  she's  a  won- 
der when  it  comes  to  acting.  Then  Bess 
Atherton  and  Joe  Knight  and  Fliss  White  and 
Mary  Brownell  are  in  it,  but  I  don't  know  the 
rest  very  well.  None  of  the  girls  from  my 
division  are  in  the  club,  for  you  have  to  be  at 
least  a  soph,  to  be  eligible  and  then  only  a  small 
proportion  of  the  upper-class  girls  make  it, 
for  you  have  to  get  high  rank  in  French.  O 
dear,  I'd  never  make  it  if  I  studied  a  hundred 
years.  I  can't  seem  to  get  it  through  this  stu- 
pid old  head  of  mine,  and  as  for  talking  it  and 
acting  it  too  —  why,  it's  simply  beyond  my 
comprehension." 

Jean  wrote  her  letter  to  Constance  and  soon 
received  word  that  she  would  be  delighted  to 
accept  the  invitation  and  would  be  out  early 
in  the  afternoon,  but  she  would  have  to  take 
the  first  train  back  in  the  morning  as  she  had 
a  lesson  at  noon. 

The  morning  of  the  eighteenth  was  dull  and 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY      169 

cloudy,  and  before  noon  it  was  snowing  hard 
and  had  every  appearance  of  a  bad  storm. 
Jean  stood  at  the  window  after  dinner  and 
watched  the  whirling  snowflakes.  "  She  won't 
come,  I  know  she  won't  come,  if  it  snows  like 
this,  and  after  I've  gone  and  made  all  those 
elaborate  preparations  I  call  it  a  mean  shame. 
Lucky  I  went  down  to  the  Square  yesterday 
and  bought  the  food,  for  I  shouldn't  enjoy 
lugging  things  home  to-day  in  this  storm. 
Well,  if  she  doesn't  come  we'll  celebrate  just 
the  same.  I  hope  it  won't  be  so  deep  by  night 
that  we  can't  get  up  to  the  gym.  I  think  I'll 
do  my  packing  now,  for  I  sha'n't  have  much 
more  time  before  the  train  starts  unless  I  sit 
up  to-night  after  the  girls  go.  You  tell  your 
people,  Elizabeth,  that  I'm  very  much  obliged 
for  their  dandy  invitation  for  the  holidays,  but 
I  simply  can't  postpone  my  New  York  visit 
again.  But  there  are  other  vacations  coming, 
and  I'll  be  pretty  glad  to  go  home  with  you 
then.  Here's  a  box  I  want  you  to  put  into 
your  suit-case,  but  it's  not  to  be  opened  until 
Christmas  morning,  and  this  letter's  for  Dick, 
but  it's  so  valuable  I  won't  trust  it  to  Uncle 


1 70     JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Sam  and  I  want  you  to  put  it  in  his  stocking, 
or  if  he's  too  old  to  hang  up  his  stocking  you 
can  put  it  under  his  plate  at  breakfast.  I  won- 
der when  my  box  from  home  will  arrive.  Fa- 
ther wrote  me  he  had  sent  it.  We  always 
hang  up  our  stockings  at  home  Christmas  Eve 
and  then  have  a  big  Christmas  tree  at  night. 
It's  the  first  time  I've  ever  missed  it,  and  unless 
I'm  having  an  awfully  good  time  in  New  York, 
I'll  be  pretty  homesick." 

Jean  worked  hard  at  her  packing  and  after 
she  had  finished  she  went  downstairs  to  do  a 
little  practising.  The  piano  was  so  arranged 
that  she  had  a  good  view  of  Faculty  Row  and 
it  must  be  confessed  that  she  kept  her  eyes 
there  as  much  as  on  her  music.  At  last  she 
saw  Constance  battling  against  the  wind  and 
the  snow  and  she  ran  to  the  door  to  greet  her. 
"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  you've  come,  Constance ! 
I  was  afraid  you  couldn't  get  over  here. 
Are  the  cars  on  time,  or  did  you  come  by 
train?" 

"  I  went  across  the  city  on  the  Elevated  and 
took  the  train  out.  It  isn't  deep  enough  yet 
to  affect  the  trains,  but  it  will  be  soon  if  it 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY     171 

keeps  up  like  this.  The  wind  is  so  strong  it's 
beginning  to  drift.  By  morning  I  may  not  be 
able  to  get  back  or  you  to  go  to  New  York.  I 
thought  I'd  never  get  up  the  Row ;  as  it  is,  my 
feet  are  soaked.  Let  me  borrow  your  slippers 
and  some  dry  stockings  and  I'll  be  all  right. 
I'm  crazy  to  see  your  room,  Jean.  Those  snap- 
shots you  sent  are  mighty  attractive,  but  I 
know  the  original's  lots  better." 

"  Fine,"  said  Constance  after  she  had 
stepped  into  45.  "  It's  so  simple,  not  packed 
brimful  with  the  useless  trifles  one  generally 
sees  in  college  girls'  rooms.  You  can  find 
your  way  around  in  these  rooms  all  right. 
You  ought  to  see  the  box  I  live  in.  Positively 
we  have  to  move  some  of  our  furniture  out 
into  the  hall  at  night  before  we  can  get  un- 
dressed and  into  bed.  You  don't  mind  if  I 
look  around,  do  you?  I  love  new  things. 
What  a  splendid  picture  of  Tom!  He  didn't 
give  me  one ;  guess  I'll  have  to  remind  him  of 
it.  What's  this  picture  of  an  old  farmhouse 
on  your  desk?" 

"  That's  my  room-mate's  home  in  New- 
burgh.  You  know  I  spent  the  Thanksgiving 


172  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

holidays  there  and  quite  fell  in  love  with  the 
place." 

"  With  the  place  or  somebody  on  the  place  ? 
Come,  Jean,  '  f ess  up ' ;  don't  keep  any  secrets 
from  me." 

"  Well,  both,  Connie ;  they're  the  nicest 
family  I've  met  in  the  East.  Here,  put  on 
these  stockings  and  slippers  and  dry  your  feet 
on  the  radiator  or  you'll  catch  your  death-o'- 
cold.  Then  we'll  go  downstairs  and  see  some 
of  the  girls.  I've  invited  a  few  up  here  after 
the  play,  but  I  promised  one  or  two  who  are 
very  anxious  to  meet  you  that  I'd  take  you  in 
to  see  them  before  supper.  I  hope  you'll  like 
the  girls  out  here.  I  think  they're  a  mighty 
jolly  lot.  My  room-mate  is  studying  algebra 
in  one  of  the  freshman  rooms,  but  she'll  be 
back  before  long.  She's  quiet,  but  there's  ever 
so  much  to  her." 

Presently  they  started  down  to  Peggy  Alli- 
son's room  and  found  she  and  Natalie  had 
made  tea  for  them  and  had  sandwiches,  nuts 
and  candy.  "  You'll  spoil  our  appetites  for 
supper,  Peggy,  with  all  this  glorious  feed." 

"  Just   as   well,   Jean,"   said   Peggy ;    "  it's 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY      173 

Wednesday  night  and  we  always  have  beans. 
I  think  baked  beans  on  Saturdays  and  Wednes- 
days, too,  is  the  limit." 

"  Well,"  said  Natalie,  "  let's  not  go  down  for 
supper.  We  can  stay  here  and  eat  all  we  want 
to.  I  don't  believe  Peg  will  eat  anything,  she's 
so  excited.  She's  been  rehearsing  all  the 
afternoon,  and  all  the  morning  she  worked  on 
the  scenery.  She's  got  a  stunning  costume 
and  make-up.  Wait  till  you  see  her  and  you'll 
say  she's  the  handsomest  cavalier  you've  ever 
set  eyes  on,  and  fall  in  love  with  her  on  the 
spot.  Isn't  it  a  shame  it's  storming  so  hard? 
I  don't  believe  half  of  the  guests  will  come, 
but  perhaps  Mile.  Franchant  will  let  them  re- 
peat it  after  vacation.  It's  a  shame  after 
everybody  has  worked  so  hard." 

"  Thanks  for  your  invitation  for  supper, 
Nat,  but  I  think  Constance  and  I  had  better 
go  downstairs,  for  I  want  her  to  see  our  din- 
ing-room and  the  girls.  Why,  there's  the  bell 
this  minute  and  we  intended  to  go  into  some 
of  the  other  rooms.  Good  luck  to  you,  Peggy ; 
I  know  you'll  be  the  bright  and  shining  star. 
Oh,  where  is  your  seat,  Natalie  ?  Ours  are  in 


174  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

'  G.'  We  freshmen  in  the  house  got  some  to- 
gether. Don't  forget  you  two  are  coming  up 
to  our  room  after  the  play.  I've  got  permis- 
sion for  us  to  stay  up  till  eleven  o'clock,  so  if 
the  play  is  late,  hustle  down  as  soon  as  you 
can." 

The  play  was  held  in  the  gymnasium,  and 
by  eight  o'clock  it  was  crowded  to  the  doors 
in  spite  of  the  storm.  The  girls  were  greatly 
disappointed  that  they  could  not  wear  their 
best-looking  gowns,  but  it  was  dangerous  to 
risk  them  in  the  drifting  snow,  so  most  of 
them  wore  light  waists  with  their  dark  skirts. 
The  French  play  always  was  considered  one 
of  the  events  of  the  year  and  anticipated  by 
the  whole  college.  This  year  the  play  pre- 
sented was  "  Andromaque,"  and  given  won- 
derfully well.  Of  course  the  most  interesting 
parts  were  those  where  the  girls  took  the  parts 
of  men.  As  the  masculine  element  were  not 
invited  to  attend  the  performance,  the  girls 
felt  free  to  dress  as  fancy  prompted  them  and, 
as  Natalie  had  said,  "  did  make  perfectly  stun- 
ning men."  All  the  girls  did  well,  and  unless 
one  were  prejudiced,  one  had  to  admit  that  one 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY      175 

girl  did  no  better  than  another.  There  was  so 
much  applause  and  encoring  that  it  was  nearly 
ten  before  the  last  act  began. 

For  some  time  Jean  had  been  getting  nerv- 
ous and  every  little  while  whispered  to  Con- 
stance, "If  they  don't  finish  soon  we  won't 
have  any  time  for  the  rabbit.  Usually  we  can't 
have  company  in  our  rooms  after  ten,  but  to- 
night is  a  special  occasion  and  the  girls  can 
stay  till  eleven.  An  hour  isn't  very  long  for 
a  party." 

"  This  is  great,  Jean,"  said  Constance ;  "  I 
don't  understand  one  word  of  French,  but  I 
think  it's  stacks  of  fun  to  watch  them.  It's 
the  first  time  I've  ever  seen  girls  play  men's 
parts.  Never  mind  if  we  don't  have  time  for 
the  rabbit;  it  isn't  the  best  thing  in  the  world 
to  be  eating  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  you 
know." 

"  Well,"  said  Jean,  "  I  shall  be  disappointed 
if  we  don't  make  it.  I've  been  wanting  some 
for  ages.  Oh,  I  know  this  must  be  the  end. 
Wasn't  it  splendid?  Now  I  feel  lots  better 
that  it's  over.  Come  on,  girls!  Hustle  up; 
you've  all  got  to  help  me.  Don't  get  lost  in 


1 76     JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

the  snowdrifts,  for  it  wouldn't  be  any  fun  to- 
night to  have  to  hunt  you  up." 

The  six  freshmen  and  Constance  went  down 
to  the  Hall  together  and  up  into  45 ;  a  little 
later  came  Marjorie  Remington  and  Sallie 
Lawrence  and  Grace  Hooper  and  Natalie 
Lawton.  "Where's  Peggy?"  asked  Jean. 

"  She  '11  be  here  in  a  moment ;  she  stopped 
to  wash  off  a  little  of  the  paint  and  get  into 
some  decent  clothes." 

"  Oh,"  said  Grace  Hooper,  "  why  didn't  she 
come  the  way  she  was?  Wasn't  she  perfectly 
adorable  ?  I'd  be  only  too  glad  to  let  her  make 
love  to  me.  I'm  going  to  try  for  the  French 
club  next  year." 

"  Now,  Grace,"  said  Jean,  "  make  yourself 
useful  as  well  as  ornamental.  Please  beat  this 
egg.  You'll  have  to  use  a  fork;  it's  the  near- 
est thing  to  an  egg-beater  I  can  find.  Mar- 
jorie, will  you  put  the  crackers  on  the  plates? 
Sallie,  cut  up  the  cheese,  will  you  ?  "  and  she 
gave  everybody  something  to  do.  By  the 
time  the  work  was  all  distributed,  Peggy 
burst  into  the  room  crying,  "  J'ai  faim,  j'ai 
jaim,  mes  chores  en f ants.  Oh,  I  forgot,  I 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY     177 

mustn't  make  so  much  noise ;  it's  after  ten  and 
some  of  the  girls  are  trying  to  get  to  sleep,  but 
I'm  so  tickled  the  old  French  play  is  over  at 
last  that  I  could  shout  for  joy.  Wasn't  it  aw- 
ful there  where  I  forgot?  I  knew  I  should, 
for  I  did  at  every  rehearsal.  Here,  Jean,  what 
is  there  for  me  to  do  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  Miss  Star  Actress,  or  should  I  say 
Mr.  Star  Actor;  you  have  entertained  us  so 
well  all  the  evening  that  we'll  let  you  continue 
to  do  so  until  we've  something  to  eat  Oh, 
dear,  I  haven't  a  bit  of  alcohol;  I  knew  I'd  for- 
get something.  Who's  got  some  to  spare? 
Midge,  you're  the  nearest,  please  skip  over  to 
your  room  and  get  some." 

When  Marjorie  returned  with  a  huge  bottle, 
Jean  filled  the  lamp  of  her  chafing-dish,  not 
noticing  that  she  was  spilling  some  drops  of 
the  alcohol  on  the  papers  she  had  left  on  the 
table  after  undoing  the  numerous  packages. 
She  put  the  ingredients  into  the  dish  and  they 
lighted  the  lamp.  All  went  well  for  a  moment 
or  two  and  she  kept  stirring  the  melted  butter 
and  cheese.  Now  that  their  work  was  done 
the  girls  felt  freer  to  talk  and  left  Jean  to  her- 


178   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

self.  She  went  over  to  her  closet  to  take  out 
a  box  of  chocolates  which  she  had  hidden  there 
and  then  circulated  them  among  the  girls. 
When  she  returned  to  the  table  she  saw  that 
some  of  the  alcohol  which  she  had  dropped  on 
the  platter  was  burning.  Thinking  it  would 
do  no  harm  she  let  it  burn  until  it  blazed  up 
and  caught  the  papers  near  by  that  had  been 
wet  with  the  drops  of  alcohol.  In  a  moment 
they  were  all  ablaze  and  the  girls  were  so 
frightened  that  they  stood  still  without  know- 
ing what  to  do.  Danger  threatened  Merton 
and  perhaps  all  Ashton,  and  something  must 
be  done  at  once.  Quick  as  a  flash  Jean  pushed 
the  burning  papers  onto  the  platter  and  took 
hold  of  it  firmly  with  both  hands. 

"  Somebody  open  the  south  window, 
quick ! "  she  cried.  For  a  second  no  one 
seemed  to  know  just  which  was  the  south 
window  or  whether  there  was  any  window  in 
the  room.  Then  Elizabeth  ran  to  the  window 
and  opened  it  wide  and  Jean  in  a  flash  was  in 
front  of  it  and  threw  the  blazing  platter  and 
its  contents  down  into  the  snow  below. 

As  soon  as  the  danger  was  over  the  girls 


SOMEBODY  OPEN  THE  SOUTH  WINDOW,  QUICK!  " — Page  178. 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY      179 

realized  what  Jean  had  done.  "  How  could 
you  do  it,  Jean?  How  did  you  think  of  it? 
Oh,  look  at  your  hands  and  face;  you've 
burned  them !  "  they  all  cried. 

"No;  I  haven't  Not  badly;  just  one 
thumb  and  it  doesn't  hurt  much.  I  guess  I've 
singed  my  eyebrows  and  a  little  of  my  front 
hair,  but  the  rabbit  is  spoiled.  Isn't  it  a 
shame?  But  I'm  not  going  to  let  that  per- 
fectly good  chafing-dish  stay  down  in  the  snow 
and  get  buried  up  and  stay  there  all  vacation. 
I'm  going  to  put  on  my  rubber  boots  and  a 
short  skirt  and  sweater  and  go  down  and  get 
it.  I  don't  want  any  of  you  to  come  with  me. 
I  know  how  to  unbolt  the  door,  and  no  one  will 
ever  know  anything  about  it  if  you'll  keep  it 
to  yourselves.  Here,  Elizabeth,  pass  the  sand- 
wiches and  olives  and  other  eats.  I'm  deter- 
mined, though,  that  you  shall  have  a  rabbit  and 
I've  got  enough  stuff  here  to  make  another 
even  if  there's  only  enough  for  one  cracker 
apiece ;  that's  better  than  nothing." 

"But,"  protested  Peggy,  "you  won't  have 
time;  it's  almost  quarter  of  eleven  now,  and 
you  know  we  must  get  back  to  our  rooms  at 


i8o  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

eleven  surely  or  we'll  never  get  permission 
again." 

"  Well,  girls,"  said  Jean,  "  I  shall  make  that 
rabbit  to-night  if  I'm  expelled  to-morrow. 
You  must  go,  I  suppose,  at  eleven,  but  we  two 
can  stay  up  as  long  as  we  please  in  our  own 
room  if  we're  not  disturbing  any  one  else. 
Constance  and  I  will  eat  all  we  can  to-night, 
and  I'll  see  that  the  rest  of  you  get  yours  to- 
morrow. Cold  rabbit  is  as  good  as  hot;  some 
like  it  better,  particularly  if  it's  thick  and 
leathery.  Aren't  these  rubber  boots  grand? 
I  never  thought  when  I  bought  them  last 
month  that  I  should  dedicate  them  hunting  for 
lost  chafing-dishes  and  rabbits  in  snowdrifts. 
Well,  here  goes,  switch  the  light  over  to  the 
south  window  and  watch  me  discover  the 
North  Pole,  or  the  chafing-dish.  Just  wet  this 
handkerchief  first,  will  you,  Nat,  so  I  can  wind 
it  round  my  throbbing  thumb.  How's  that 
for  alliteration,  freshies;  wouldn't  that  please 
Miss  Whiting?" 

After  winding  the  wet  handkerchief  around 
her  thumb  she  put  on  some  heavy  gloves  and 
was  ready  to  start.  The  corridors  were  dark, 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY     181 

for  all  the  lights  had  been  put  out  at  half -past 
ten.  She  groped  her  way  along  the  banisters 
and  managed  somehow  to  reach  the  lower  hall- 
way. It  seemed  as  though  every  step  had 
made  the  long  stairs  creak  and  protest  against 
what  she  was  doing,  and  she  was  sure  when 
she  hit  against  a  hall  chair  that  she  would 
awaken  Mrs.  Thompson.  She  waited  a  few 
moments  and  listened,  but  apparently  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  sleeping  peacefully,  little 
dreaming  of  what  was  happening  just  outside 
her  sacred  domain.  She  finally  located  the 
great  bolt  and  in  a  moment  had  the  door  open. 
She  moved  over  the  door-mat  to  prevent  the 
doors  closing,  for  if  the  wind  should  blow 
them  together  again  she  would  not  be  able  to 
open  them  unless  one  of  the  girls  came  down 
and  helped  her. 

Out  on  the  steps  her  courage  failed  her  for 
a  moment,  for  the  snow  was  whirled  in  every 
direction  by  the  terrific  wind,  but  she  stepped 
down  into  it  and  instantly  was  up  to  her  knees. 
She  decided  to  give  it  up  and  return  to  the 
girls,  but  she  hated  to  be  defeated  in  anything, 
so  attempted  it  again.  She  could  hardly  walk, 


182   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

but  had  to  scuff  along,  making  her  own  path. 
It  was  a  long  way  down  the  east  side  of  the 
dormitory  and  then  round  the  corner  to  the 
south  side.  The  light  from  45  shone  brightly 
and  guided  her  to  the  spot  where  she  expected 
to  find  the  chafing-dish.  At  last  she  reached  it 
and  saw  the  tray  sticking  up  in  one  place  and 
not  far  from  it  the  standard  and  a  little  farther 
the  two  dishes  and  cover.  She  gathered  them 
in  her  arms  and  started  back,  after  waving  to 
the  girls  in  the  upper  windows.  After  she  had 
gone  two  or  three  steps  she  realized  that  she 
hadn't  found  the  alcohol  lamp,  and  as  that  was 
a  very  important  item,  she  put  the  other  parts 
down  again  and  began  to  hunt  for  the  lost  one. 
It  was  nowhere  to  be  found  and  had  probably 
fallen  out  when  she  threw  the  burning  mass 
from  the  window,  and  being  the  smallest  part 
and  the  lightest  had  undoubtedly  gone  the 
greatest  distance,  and  being  the  hottest  as  well, 
it  probably  sank  down  deep  in  the  snow.  She 
was  about  to  give  up  when  her  fingers  groping 
around  on  the  surface  found  what  she  wanted 
so  badly. 

Now  that  she  had  it  all  she  returned  the 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY     183 

same  way  she  had  come,  but  it  was  easier  now 
because  she  had  only  to  retrace  her  footsteps. 
Still,  it  was  no  easy  task  and  took  some  little 
time.  Just  as  she  reached  the  stone  steps  she 
heard  the  campus  clock  ring  out  eleven  strokes. 
She  entered  the  door  and  closed  it  as  cau- 
tiously as  possible  and  put  the  mat  in  its  proper 
place.  Then  she  groped  her  way  up  the  three 
flights  of  stairs  and  was  soon  in  45,  breathless 
but  triumphant.  "  Here  it  is,  girls,  and  some 
of  the  cheese  is  still  in  the  dish ;  have  some  ?  " 

"  Jean,  you're  a  hero,"  said  Peggy,  "  but  we 
mustn't  stay  another  minute ;  it's  already  struck 
eleven.  Sorry  to  have  missed  the  rabbit,  but 
the  other  things  were  delicious  and  your  ad- 
venture such  a  novelty  in  the  way  of  entertain- 
ment. Don't  do  it  again,  for  it's  rather 
dangerous  unless  one  has  your  nerve.  Good 
night.  Tell  us  the  rest  of  the  story  in  the 
morning." 

"All  right,  but  'Mum's  the  word/  girls," 
said  Jean,  as  she  followed  them  to  the  door. 
"  At  our  first  reunion  after  vacation  I'll  tell 
you  all  about  the  hairbreadth  escapes  I  had  in 
the  mad  pursuit  of  the  rabbit.  Isn't  that  a 


184  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

thrilling  subject  for  my  next  English  theme? 
Quietly,  now ;  don't  make  any  noise ;  don't  any- 
body stub  her  toe  or  trip  on  the  stairs." 

"And  now,"  said  Jean,  as  she  came  back 
into  the  room,  "  I'm  going  to  finish  that  rabbit 
if  I  don't  get  a  particle  of  sleep  to-night.  You 
can  retire  gracefully,  if  you  so  desire,  to  Eliza- 
beth's bed  and  I'll  stick  to  my  post  of  duty  till 
the  rabbit  dies." 

"  No,"  said  Constance,  "  I'm  not  a  bit 
sleepy;  I'd  rather  watch  you,  but  first  can't  I 
put  something  on  those  burns  ?  " 

"  No,  thanks,  Connie,  they  aren't  half  bad, 
and  if  I  keep  something  wet  on  my  thumb  it 
will  be  all  right." 

Into  the  chafing-dish  went  all  of  the  re- 
maining ingredients,  few  to  be  sure,  but 
enough  to  half  fill  the  dish.  There  was  no 
egg  but  Jean  decided  to  risk  it  without.  She 
stirred  and  stirred,  but  it  refused  to  thicken, 
and  as  the  college  clock  struck  twelve  she  de- 
cided it  never  would.  "  Well,  we  can  put  a 
little  in  these  saucers  and  eat  it  with  a  spoon 
and  perhaps  by  morning  what  we  leave  in  the 
dish  will  thicken  enough  to  spread  on  crackers. 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY      185 

I  mean  that  every  girl  shall  have  a  souvenir 
of  the  great  and  glorious  occasion." 

They  put  a  little  in  the  saucers  and  broke  in 
some  cracker.  Constance  took  a  mouthful 
and  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  Jean,  the  mustard ! 
How  much  did  you  put  in  ?  " 

"  Why,  just  what  the  rule  said,  of  course." 

"  It  must  be  a  funny  rule,  for  it's  so  awfully 
hot  you  never  can  eat  it." 

"  Well,  I  should  say  so,"  said  Jean,  after  a 
taste.  "  Let's  hope  it  will  cool  off  by  morning. 
Anyway,  I've  done  what  I  said  I  should;  it's 
made  and  we've  eaten  some.  Now  let's  go  to 
bed  at  once.  I  shall  leave  all  the  dishes  and 
cleaning  up  until  morning.  Fortunately  I 
have  two  spare  hours  before  train  time  and 
my  trunk  is  all  packed.  Isn't  this  room  a 
mess?  Let's  retire  gracefully  to  our  downy 
couches  and  forget  what  we've  left  behind.  Do 
you  think  my  eyebrows,  or  rather  what  there 
is  left  of  them,  look  badly?" 

"  No  one  would  ever  know  'what  had  hap- 
pened unless  you  told  them.  I  think  you  got 
out  of  it  mighty  easily.  It's  a  wonder  you 
weren't  burned  badly,  or  the  curtains  didn't 


186  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

catch  and  start  a  fire.  What  a  terrible  night 
to  have  been  burned  out.  Ough !  I  don't  like 
the  idea  at  all.  Are  you  sure  everything  is  all 
right  out  in  the  study  ?  " 

"  Why,  of  course,  you  big  silly.  Now  calm 
yourself  and  get  into  bed,  and  we'll  talk  it  over 
in  the  morning." 

The  first  thing  Jean  did  after  the  rising  bell 
awoke  her  from  a  sound  sleep  was  to  go  out 
into  the  study  and  look  into  the  chafing-dish. 
Yes,  the  rabbit  had  hardened  and  looked  any- 
thing but  attractive.  She  took  two  crackers 
and  put  the  rabbit  between  them,  making  a 
somewhat  bulky  sandwich  in  its  proportions 
but  nevertheless  edible.  With  Constance's  as- 
sistance she  made  twelve  of  them  and  wrapped 
each  one  in  some  tissue  paper  and  tied  them 
with  narrow  white  ribbon.  Slipping  on  her 
kimona  and  bed  shoes  she  put  the  packages  into 
a  small  basket  and  hastened  out  in  the  hall 
and  stopped  at  the  room  of  each  of  her  guests 
of  the  evening  before.  To  each  girl  she  pre- 
sented a  neat  package  and  wishes  for  a  Merry 
Christmas. 

Constance  and  she  were  a  little  late  at  the 


THE  CHAFING-DISH  PARTY     187 

breakfast  table  but  took  their  places  without 
a  smile  or  look  at  any  of  the  twelve  girls  who 
were  awaiting  their  arrival.  Unless  one  had 
looked  very  carefully  one  would  not  have  per- 
ceived that  Jean's  right  thumb  was  carefully 
done  up  in  a  white  bandage.  Aside  from  this 
there  was  no  indication  of  the  incidents  of  the 
previous  evening.  Breakfast  talk  centered  on 
the  excellence  of  the  French  play  the  night  be- 
fore and  the  acting  of  Peggy  Allison.  Just 
before  breakfast  was  over  Mary  Boynton 
arose  and  announced  two  important  notices  be- 
fore the  departure  of  the  girls  for  the  Christ- 
mas holidays. 

"  The  Merton  House  Entertainment  Com- 
mittee have  planned  a  costume  party  for  Jan- 
uary thirteenth,  to  be  limited  to  the  girls  of 
the  dormitory.  Every  girl  is  expected  to  be 
in  costume.  For  further  particulars  apply  to 
Helena  Burrage,  Florence  Goodnow,  and  Ma- 
bel Addison. 

"  The  proctors  for  the  two  weeks  beginning 
January  sixth,  have  been  appointed  as  follows : 
first  floor,  Lena  Hutchinson;  second  floor,  Re- 
becca Chapin;  third  floor,  Mary  Andrews; 


i88  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

fourth  floor,  Jean  Cabot;  fifth  floor,  Sarah 
Dillon.  They  will  meet  for  a  few  moments 
after  breakfast  in  the  reading-room." 

Then  the  girls  filed  out  and  hurried  up- 
stairs for  last  preparations.  The  proctors 
consulted  together  a  few  moments  and  were 
given  instructions  as  to  their  duties  and  then 
were  dismissed.  Jean  and  Constance  decided 
to  go  to  Chapel  and  clean  up  afterwards.  It 
took  till  nearly  ten  before  the  last  dish  was 
washed  and  wiped,  and  Constance  had  to 
hurry  for  the  train.  "  You  must  be  sure  to 
visit  me  after  vacation,  but  I'll  promise  you 
no  such  exciting  times  as  you  gave  me.  My 
best  to  Tom.  Thanks  for  your  hospitality," 
she  said  as  she  boarded  the  train.  Jean 
watched  until  the  train  was  out  of  sight  and 
then  went  up  to  ten  o'clock  recitation.  At 
twelve  she  boarded  a  crowded  train  and  left 
Ashton  and  its  problems  behind  her. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   COSTUME   PARTY 

1HE  Christmas  holidays  passed  all 
too  quickly  and  were  crowded  to  the 
utmost  with  good  times.  It  was  with 
a  little  reluctance  that  Jean  took  the  noon 
train  from  New  York  on  Wednesday,  Jan- 
uary eighth,  for  Boston.  Tom  went  with  her 
to  the  station  and  saw  her  safely  aboard. 
There  were  many  of  the  college  girls  on  the 
train  and  as  she  went  through  the  Pullman 
looking  for  her  chair  she  heard  Marjorie 
Remington  calling  her. 

"  Here's  a  vacant  chair  beside  me,  Jean. 
Come  over  and  sit  down  in  it,  even  if  it  isn't 
yours,  and  if  any  one  comes  in  later  to  claim 
it  you  can  move  over  into  your  own.  I  want 
to  hear  about  your  good  times,  and  I've  got 
just  stacks  to  tell  you." 

The  girls  kept  up  a  spirited  conversation  all 
the  way  to  Boston  and  one  incident  followed 
189 


190  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

another  in  rapid  succession  until  Marjorie  said, 
"  Before  we  reach  Boston  I  want  to  tell  you 
a  secret,  Jean,  but  first  you  must  promise  me 
not  to  tell  a  soul  at  college."  Jean  promised 
faithfully,  and  Marjorie  continued,  "  Jack  and 
I  are  engaged.  Here's  my  ring,  but  I  don't 
dare  wear  it  openly  yet,  so  I  shall  put  it  on  a 
chain  and  wear  it  around  my  neck  under  my 
dress  where  no  one  can  see  it.  You  see, 
father  and  mother  don't  quite  approve  of  Jack 
and  wouldn't  allow  me  to  announce  my  en- 
gagement, especially  while  I'm  in  college,  but 
we  couldn't  wait  any  longer  and  Jack  gave  me 
the  ring  Christmas  in  a  box  of  candy,  so  no 
one  suspected.  Isn't  it  a  beautiful  diamond? 
You  know,  Jack  has  plenty  of  money  in  his 
own  name,  but  father  doesn't  always  approve 
of  the  way  he  spends  it.  We  haven't  made 
any  plans  yet,  but  I  think  we'll  be  married  in 
the  fall.  Jack  graduates  in  June,  and  I  surely 
am  not  coming  back  to  Ashton  another  year. 
I  almost  fear  I'll  flunk  out  at  midyear's,  but 
I'm  going  to  dig  hard  from  now  on,  for  I  want 
to  be  in  the  East  until  June  and  if  I  should 
flunk  it  would  be  home  for  me  and  no  Jack. 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         191 

"  To  think  you  haven't  met  him  yet !  Well, 
you  will  to-day,  for  he's  going  to  meet  me  at 
the  train  if  he  possibly  can.  He  had  to  go 
back  earlier  than  I,  for  Harvard  began  last 
week.  I  think  I'll  stay  in  town  for  an  early 
dinner,  but  I'll  be  out  before  eight.  I  suppose 
you're  looking  forward  with  joy  to  your  duties 
as  proctor  of  fourth  floor.  I  don't  envy  you 
your  honor;  I  suppose  it  will  be  thrust  upon 
me  soon,  for  it  must  be  getting  pretty  near  my 
turn.  Well,  I  sha'n't  bother  you,  for  it's  study 
for  mine  every  minute  till  midyear's.  The 
costume  party  is  the  only  dissipation  that  I  can 
allow  myself.  I  made  the  dandiest  costume  at 
home,  but  I  can't  tell  you  what  it  is.  Did  you 
make  one  ?  " 

"  No,  I  haven't  had  time  even  to  think  about 
one,  but  I'll  fix  up  something  myself,  or  hire 
a  costume  in  town.  Like  you,  I'm  going  to 
study  as  hard  as  I  can  so  I  sha'n't  have  time 
for  anything  else.  I'm  awfully  surprised  to 
hear  you're  engaged.  Do  you  think  it's  just 
right  to  keep  it  from  your  father  and  mother? 
I  should  think  you'd  want  them  to  know  about 
it  first.  I  should  if  it  were  I." 


192   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  But  I  shouldn't  dare  tell  them  now.  I'm 
hoping  they'll  feel  all  right  about  it  later. 
We're  almost  in  Boston  now.  I  do  hope  noth- 
ing will  keep  Jack  from  meeting  me." 

Marjorie  was  not  to  be  disappointed,  fof 
Jack  was  at  the  station  to  meet  her,  and  she 
proudly  introduced  him  to  Jean.  He  invited 
her  to  accompany  them  up  town  for  dinner, 
but  she  declined  and  left  them  at  the  Elevated. 
When  she  arrived  at  Merton  she  found  Eliza- 
beth had  not  come,  but  she  knew  the  last  train 
from  Wilton  Junction  reached  Boston  about 
eight  and  she  felt  sure  Elizabeth  would  take 
that  one. 

She  was  not  mistaken,  and  about  half-past 
eight  Elizabeth  arrived,  very  tired  from  her 
hard  trip.  After  she  had  removed  her  hat  and 
coat,  she  said,  "  Has  Marjorie  Remington  re- 
turned yet,  Jean  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Elizabeth.  I  came  on  with 
her  from  New  York,  but  I  left  her  in  Boston 
and  she  said  she  was  coming  out  after  an  early 
dinner.  Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

"  I  came  out  from  Boston  with  a  girl  I 
thought  was  she,  but  she  was  with  some  fel- 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         193 

low  I  never  have  seen  out  here  They  were 
walking  up  the  Row  very  slowly  and  as  I 
passed  them  they  were  talking  together  very 
earnestly.  From  what  I  heard  I  could  not  be- 
lieve it  was  Marjorie  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
it  looked  so  much  like  her." 

"  Probably  it  was  Jack  Goodrich  from  Har- 
vard. He  lives  in  Detroit  and  he  and  Mar- 
jorie have  always  been  good  friends.  Now 
tell  me  about  your  vacation." 

They  began  an  exchange  of  experiences  but 
were  interrupted  every  few  minutes  by  girls 
coming  in  to  welcome  them  back.  Nearly 
every  one  ended  with,  "  Did  you  make  your 
costume  for  Monday  night?"  It  was  late 
when  Jean  and  Elizabeth  found  themselves 
alone  without  fear  of  further  interruption. 
"  Jean,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  I  want  to  thank  you 
for  what  you  did  for  us  all  at  Christmas,  and 
most  of  all  for  Brother's  gift.  He  has  written 
you,  too,  but  I  must  tell  you  all  that  it  means 
to  me,  for  I  feel  as  though  it  were  benefiting 
me  as  much  as  him.  To  think  that  he  can  go 
to  college  next  year!  I  can  hardly  believe  it 
now,  although  I  have  thought  and  talked  of 


194   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

little  else  all  the  vacation.  How  could  you 
be  so  generous?  " 

"Oh,  let's  not  talk  about  it,  Elizabeth. 
You  know  I  have  more  spending  money  than 
I  know  how  to  use,  and  father  helped  some 
because  I  wrote  him  all  about  Dick  and  his 
patience  and  courage  and  talent.  You  can 
finish  your  course,  too,  perhaps,  and  Dick  be 
in  college  at  the  same  time.  So  let's  not  ever 
say  anything  more  about  it." 

The  costume  party  was  to  be  held  in  the 
dining-room,  reading-room,  and  hall  of  Mer- 
ton,  and  all  the  afternoon  the  girls  strung 
Japanese  lanterns  and  brought  down  furniture 
from  rooms  above  to  make  as  many  cozy  cor- 
ners as  space  allowed.  Supper  was  to  be  a  lit- 
tle early,  and  after  it  was  over  the  tables  and 
chairs  were  to  be  moved  out  and  the  floors 
waxed.  The  electric  lights  were  covered  with 
red  paper  to  dim  their  brightness,  and  the  piano 
was  moved  out  into  the  center  of  the  living- 
room  so  that  the  music  could  be  heard  better 
in  all  the  rooms. 

By  eight  o'clock  most  of  the  girls  were 
downstairs,  and  in  their  costumes  and  masks 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         195 

presented  an  attractive  appearance.  Half  of 
the  girls  wore  men's  costumes  of  all  periods, 
and  there  were  kings  and  queens,  clowns  and 
French  dolls,  Quakers  and  follies,  peasant 
maids  from  many  countries,  shepherds  and 
shepherdesses,  Topsies,  Marguerites  and 
priests,  nuns  and  dancing  maids  were  present, 
and  others  too  numerous  to  mention.  A  local 
pianist  had  been  hired,  and  she  was  the  only 
one  in  the  room  not  in  costume.  Even  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  somewhere  in  the  merry  throng. 
There  was  first  a  grand  march  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  dancing  until  ten  o'clock,  when  the 
unmasking  was  to  take  place  and  light  refresh- 
ments served.  Gradually,  little  groups  of 
girls  thought  they  recognized  each  other  and 
surmised  the  identity  of  certain  others.  Jean 
and  Elizabeth  and  Sallie  Lawrence  were  rest- 
ing after  a  strenuous  Virginia  Reel.  "Who 
is  that  couple  who  have  danced  together  all 
the  evening,  the  tall  monk  and  the  demure 
sister  of  charity?  Probably  she  thinks  it's 
her  duty  to  confess  to  him  for  her  worldly 
dissipation.  The  sister  of  charity  looks  like 
Marjorie  Remington,  but  who  can  the  monk 


196  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

be?  Marjorie  doesn't  generally  remain  so 
faithful  to  one  partner,"  said  Sallie. 

"  It  is  Marjorie,"  said  Jean;  "  I  can  tell  her 
walk  anywhere  and  I'm  sure  those  are  her 
pumps.  She  told  me  she  bought  them  in  De- 
troit this  last  vacation.  I'm  sure  I  can't  im- 
agine who  her  partner  is.  The  tallest  girl  I 
know  is  Mary  Stickney.  It  must  be  she,  but 
isn't  it  queer  Marjorie  should  care  to  dance 
so  often  with  her?  Probably  she  thinks  it's 
more  picturesque  to  dance  with  a  monk.  I  re- 
member asking  Mary  this  afternoon  if  she 
was  going  to-night  and  she  said  she  didn't 
believe  so,  but  if  she  did  she'd  have  to  get  up 
something  very  simple  at  the  last  moment. 
That  monk's  costume  is  surely  the  simplest  one 
here." 

After  several  of  the  girls  had  asked  the 
charming  sister  of  charity  to  dance  and  she 
had  shaken  her  pretty  head  and  persisted  in 
dancing  with  the  monk,  all  the  others  began  to 
wonder  a  bit  and  talk  among  themselves. 
"Who  is  the  monk?"  was  on  everybody's 
tongue,  and  it  was  pretty  generally  conceded 
to  be  Mary  Stickney. 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         197 

Just  before  ten  the  monk  and  his  fair  part- 
ner slowly  left  the  main  room  for  a  lemonade 
table  at  the  end  of  the  hall.  Most  of  the 
others  were  dancing,  but  Jean,  very  tired  with 
the  excitement  of  the  evening,  had  slipped 
alone  into  a  little  cozy  corner  just  beyond  the 
lemonade  table.  She  did  not  intend  to  watch 
or  to  listen,  but  she  could  not  help  herself. 
When  the  two  dancers  were  left  to  themselves, 
she  heard  Marjorie  Remington  say,  "  Hasn't 
it  been  splendid,  Jack  ?  Not  a  soul  ever  would 
suspect,  for  you  certainly  took  every  precau- 
tion. But  I  think  you'd  better  go  now,  for 
it's  almost  time  to  unmask.  Take  off  your 
robe  and  mask  in  the  outer  hall  and  you'll  find 
your  cap  and  coat  and  shoes  in  my  suit-case 
there  in  the  right-hand  corner.  You'll  not 
meet  any  one,  for  everybody  in  the  house  is 
at  the  dance  and  it's  too  late  for  outsiders  to 
be  coming  in.  Still,  be  cautious.  Let  me 
know  how  you  get  back  to  Cambridge,  and 
come  out  as  soon  as  you  can.  Good  night, 
dear.  Don't  let  anything  happen  to  you." 
And  the  black-robed  priest  disappeared  from 
view  and  the  demure  little  sister  of  charity  sat 


198   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

down  a  few  minutes  in  the  dimly-lighted  hall 
to  rest. 

Jean  did  not  leave  the  cozy  corner  until  she 
was  sure  Marjorie  had  joined  the  dancers. 
She  leaned  back  against  the  pillows,  faint  with 
astonishment  and  dismay.  What  should  she 
do?  One  idea  after  another  rushed  through 
her  brain  and  confused  her  more  and  more. 
She  must  act  quickly,  or  it  would  be  too  late. 
Stealing  into  the  outer  hall  she  found  the  black 
robe  and  mask  Jack  had  left  there  and  she  put 
them  on  over  her  Old  Mother  Hubbard  cos- 
tume. She  knew  she  was  not  as  tall  as  Jack 
was,  but  still  there  was  not  such  a  great  dif- 
ference and  it  was  worth  the  risk.  Slowly 
wending  her  way  back  into  the  main  room,  she 
found  the  sister  of  charity  just  about  to  dance 
with  a  Little  Boy  Blue.  She  put  her  arm 
round  Marjorie  and  drew  her  away  before  Lit- 
tle Boy  Blue  realized  what  was  happening. 

Marjorie  herself  was  so  astonished  she 
could  say  nothing  at  first,  but  after  a  moment 
whispered,  "  Jack,  how  careless ;  you  must  go. 
We're  going  to  unmask  after  this  dance  and 
if  you're  found  here  I'll  be  expelled  to-mor- 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         199 

row."  But  the  monk  answered  never  a  word, 
but  danced  as  smoothly  and  gently  as  though 
he  had  heard  nothing.  Again  Marjorie  whis- 
pered, "  Oh,  Jack,  you  must  go !  Don't  wait 
another  minute  or  I'm  lost." 

Just  then  the  music  stopped  and  some  one 
cried,  "  Masks  off !  "  and  there  was  a  general 
pulling  off  of  masks  amid  peals  of  laughter. 
As  Marjorie  gazed  into  Jean's  face  a  look  of 
terror  settled  over  her  own  as  she  gasped 
"You!"  but  Jean  said  quietly,  "We'll  talk 
about  it  later  up  in  your  room.  Don't  leave 
until  the  others  do,"  and  she  hurried  away. 
There  were  many  surprises  at  the  unmask- 
ing, but  the  greatest  was  Jean's.  Several  of 
the  girls,  among  them  Elizabeth  and  Sallie, 
declared  they  had  recognized  her  earlier  in  the 
evening  in  another  costume,  but  she  refused  to 
answer  except  as  she  whispered  in  Elizabeth's 
ear,  "  Don't  ask  too  many  questions.  Trust 
me;  it's  all  right." 

Then  the  refreshments  were  served  and  still 
there  was  time  for  a  few  more  dances.  Jean 
went  to  the  piano  and  offered  to  play  so  that 
the  pianist  might  dance  a  little.  Really,  Jean 


200  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

needed  to  think  and  be  away  from  the  girls. 
She  hardly  knew  what  she  was  playing,  so 
absorbed  was  she  with  the  thought  of  what 
Marjorie  had  done  and  what  she  as  proctor  of 
fourth  floor  must  do  before  very  long.  Such 
a  thing  could  not  be  passed  by  unnoticed,  and 
still  what  a  terrible  thing  it  would  be  to  have 
Marjorie  expelled  through  her.  She  had 
heard  of  people  sacrificing  duty  for  friendship, 
and  she  wondered  what  she  would  do  when  it 
came  time  to  decide.  Once  the  room  seemed 
to  grow  black  and  she  thought  she  would  fall 
off  the  stool,  but  by  a  supreme  effort  she  shook 
off  the  approaching  faintness  and  finished  the 
waltz  she  was  playing.  Then  she  arose  and 
left  the  piano  and  walked  over  to  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son. "  I  think  I  will  be  excused,  if  you  please, 
Mrs.  Thompson.  I  feel  a  little  tired.  It's 
been  a  splendid  party.  Good  night." 

Elizabeth  was  watching  her  and  noticed  her 
pallor  and  swaying  body.  "  What  is  the  mat- 
ter, Jean  ?  What  has  happened  ?  This  isn't  a 
bit  like  you.  Can  I  help  you  ?  " 

"  No,  Elizabeth ;  I  shall  be  all  right  as  soon 
as  I  get  upstairs.  Please  don't  leave  until  the 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         201 

others  do."  Then  she  crept  up  the  stairs  and 
when  she  entered  her  own  room  she  closed  the 
door  and  locked  it.  She  quickly  tore  off  the 
two  costumes,  leaving  the  black  one  on  the 
couch  where  Elizabeth  would  be  sure  to  see  it; 
then  she  threw  the  Old  Mother  Hubbard  dress 
into  a  trunk  which  was  in  her  closet,  closed  the 
lid,  and  locked  it.  Putting  on  her  kimona  she 
sat  down  to  think  and  wait  for  the  girls  to 
come  upstairs. 

When  Elizabeth  entered  the  room,  Jean  was 
more  like  herself  and  talked  gayly  about  the 
girls'  costumes.  "  I'll  go  out  in  the  corridor 
and  put  out  the  lights,  and  I've  got  a  message 
to  deliver  to  one  of  the  girls,  so  don't  wait 
up  for  me."  She  put  out  all  the  lights  on 
fourth  floor  and  then  walked  slowly  up  and 
down  the  corridor  three  or  four  times  before 
knocking  softly  at  Marjorie's  door.  Without 
waiting  for  her  to  reply,  Jean  entered  the  room 
and  closed  the  door  gently  after  her. 

"  Marjorie,  remember  I  come  here  to-night 
as  proctor  as  well  as  friend.  What  you  have 
done  is  awful.  I  can  hardly  think  about  it 
calmly.  How  did  you  dare  think  of  such  a 

\ 


202   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

thing?  You've  broken  every  rule  of  our 
house,  you've  deceived  every  girl  here  and 
Mrs.  Thompson  as  well,  you've  committed  an 
offense  worthy  of  expulsion,  you've  disgraced 
yourself  and  all  the  rest  of  us.  Now  what's 
to  be  done?  I'm  the  only  girl  who  knows 
what  has  happened,  although  others  were  mys- 
tified at  my  being  the  monk  and  the  Mother 
Hubbard,  too.  That  will  be  forgotten  in  a 
day  or  two,  but  what  you  have  done  is  of  more 
serious  import.  You  wonder  why  I  dressed 
up  in  Jack's  costume?  I  was  tired  of  dancing 
and  went  out  into  the  cozy  corner  beyond  the 
lemonade  table  to  rest  a  little.  Before  I  had 
been  there  long  you  and  Jack  came  and  I  could 
not  help  overhearing  your  conversation.  After 
he  had  gone  I  knew  you  would  go  back  to  the 
other  rooms  alone  and  every  one  would  won- 
der where  your  constant  attendant  had  gone. 
Questions  would  be  asked  and  you  would  have 
to  give  some  sort  of  an  explanation.  The 
idea  came  to  me  to  put  on  Jack's  costume  for 
the  remainder  of  the  evening  and  save  you 
from  a  difficult  position.  Now  I  have  given 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         203 

you  an  explanation  of  my  conduct  and  I  ask 
for  one  of  yours." 

"  There  isn't  one,  Jean ;  except  that  when 
I  told  Jack  about  the  party  he  suggested  that 
he  come  out,  too,  dressed  as  a  monk.  He 
planned  everything  so  well  that  I  thought 
there  was  no  danger  and  it  was  a  lark.  I 
was  tired  of  dancing  with  girls  and  I  longed 
for  a  dance  with  a  real  man,  and  you  know 
Jack  dances  divinely.  I  guess  Ashton  is  no 
place  for  me,  after  all,  and  you  might  as  well 
have  it  out  to-morrow  and  get  me  expelled. 
I  don't  mind  leaving  college,  but  I  hate  to 
go  home  and  have  Jack  so  far  away.  It's  a 
long  time  till  June,  and  I'll  be  awfully  lone- 
some out  there  without  him." 

"No,  Marjorie;  I  don't  want  you  publicly 
expelled.  I'm  sorrier  for  you  than  I've  ever 
been  for  any  one  in  all  my  life.  I  wish  I  were 
not  proctor  to-night,  and  I'd  say  nothing  about 
it.  As  it  is  I  shall  not  report  you  unless  you 
refuse  to  comply  with  my  plans.  You  are 
to  leave  college  to-morrow.  You'll  say  you 
were  called  home  unexpectedly.  I'll  leave  the 


204   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

reason  to  you,  but  I  must  see  you  on  the  train 
for  Detroit  and  see  the  telegram  you  send 
home  to  your  father  to  meet  you.  Jack  is 
to  know  nothing  about  it  until  you  write  him 
from  Detroit.  You  can  pack  what  clothes  you 
need  and  I  will  see  that  the  other  things  are 
sent  on  at  your  request.  You  say  that  you 
never  have  cared  for  college,  but  I  am  sure  you 
prefer  to  leave  it  honorably  rather  than  in 
disgrace.  Will  you  think  it  over  to-night  and 
let  me  know  your  decision  in  the  morning? 
If  you  do  not  come  down  to  breakfast  I  shall 
know  you  have  decided  to  do  as  I  suggest,  and 
I  promise  you,  under  those  conditions  I  shall 
never  say  a  word  to  any  one  about  the  affair. 
I  hope  you'll  do  the  right  thing.  Good 
night." 

Before  noon  the  next  day  all  Merton  was 
talking  about  Marjorie  Remington's  sudden 
call  home.  Lill  Spalding  and  Jean  helped  her 
pack  and  went  in  town  with  her  to  see  her 
take  the  late  afternoon  train  for  Detroit.  At 
night  the  excitement  had  somewhat  subsided, 
for  Marjorie's  friends  had  been  few  and  the 
others  were  little  concerned  with  her  affairs. 


THE  COSTUME  PARTY         205 

There  were  much  more  serious  matters  pend- 
ing, for  midyear's  examinations  were  only 
three  weeks  away  and  the  midnight  oil  was 
already  beginning  to  be  burned. 


CHAPTER  XI 
MIDYEAR'S 

THE  next  three  weeks  the  girls  in 
Merton  did  study,  as  did  most  of  the 
other  girls.  All  the  classes  were  hav- 
ing reviews  and  the  whole  college  had  settled 
down  to  good  hard  work.  Social  life  had 
practically  stopped,  except  for  an  occasional 
spread  or  tea,  and  society  meetings  on  Monday 
nights  were  about  the  only  diversions.  When 
she  felt  she  could  afford  the  time  Jean  had 
gone  to  basket-ball  practice,  for  she  secretly 
longed  to  make  the  freshman  team,  but  openly 
she  said  nothing  about  it.  She  knew  every- 
thing depended  upon  the  midyear  marks,  and 
although  there  had  been  a  decided  improve- 
ment in  her  work  since  Thanksgiving,  still  she 
knew  it  looked  a  little  doubtful  in  French  and 
German.  However,  she  was  confident  that 
by  June  she  would  be  doing  at  least  passing 
work. 

206 


MIDYEAR'S  207 

About  a  week  before  the  examinations  be- 
gan, Jean  went  over  to  Wellington  one  even- 
ing to  study  psychology  with  Lois  Underwood, 
who  was  in  her  division.  As  it  happened,  sev- 
eral of  the  Wellington  girls  were  in  the  same 
division  and  Lois  called  them  in  to  the  "  quiz," 
as  she  called  their  evening's  work.  The  girls 
really  worked  hard  until  about  nine  o'clock 
and  had  covered  considerable  ground  when 
they  began  talking  about  hypnotism,  a  favorite 
subject  of  Miss  Washburn,  the  psychology 
instructor. 

"  I  think  Miss  Washburn's  positively  daffy 
on  the  subject,"  said  Jean;  "I  don't  believe 
there's  anything  in  it  at  all.  She'll  be  sure, 
though,  to  ask  us  something  about  it  in  the 
exam.  I  suppose  if  we  want  to  pass  the  course 
we'll  have  to  agree  with  her  whether  we  be- 
lieve in  it  or  not." 

"  But  I  do  believe  in  it," 'said  Lois  Under- 
wood. "  Bess  and  I  have  been  reading  up  a 
lot  on  the  subject  and  we  have  been  experi- 
menting on  each  other  and  find  we  can  do  lots 
of  the  things  the  books  tell  about.  It's  easy 
enough  if  you  just  make  up  your  mind  to  it." 


208   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

The  other  girls  laughed  and  scoffed  at  this, 
and  declared  Bess  and  Lois  were  getting  daffy 
over  the  subject,  too. 

"  Well,  all  right,  girls,"  said  Lois,  "  if  you 
don't  believe  it,  I'll  let  Bess  hypnotize  me. 
You've  all  got  to  keep  perfectly  quiet  and  not 
laugh  if  she  doesn't  succeed  at  first,  for  we 
can't  always  tell  what  will  be  the  result." 

"  As  I  said  before,"  Jean  replied,  "  I  don't 
believe  there's  anything  in  it,  but  I'm  perfectly 
willing  to  be  convinced." 

The  girls  shut  their  books  and  awaited  the 
exhibition.  Bess  Johnson  arose  from  her 
chair  and  looked  steadily  into  Lois  Under- 
wood's eyes  as  she  sat  upright  on  her  couch. 
"  Put  your  mind  upon  sleep,  Lois ;  sweet,  gentle 
sleep.  You're  going  to  sleep  for  a  little  while." 
She  stepped  up  close  to  her  and  began  rubbing 
her  forehead  and  temples,  saying  all  the  time, 
"  You're  beginning  to  feel  sleepy,  you  know 
you  will  sleep,  you  can't  help  it.  Now  you're 
asleep,  asleep,  asleep."  And  at  these  words 
Lois  fell  over  on  the  couch  in  a  deep  sleep. 

"  Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  our  fair 
victim  is  peacefully  sleeping,  and  those  of  you 


MIDYEAR'S  209 

who  doubt  the  fact  are  at  liberty  to  examine 
the  sleeping  beauty  as  carefully  as  you  please. 
As  a  first  test  I  will  prick  her  arm  with  this 
needle  and  if  she  does  not  move  or  cry  out 
you  may  draw  your  own  conclusions." 

She  pricked  her  arm  with  the  needle,  but 
not  a  movement  was  made  or  a  sound  heard 
and  the  girls  looked  at  each  other  in  astonish- 
ment. They  spoke  to  her  and  shook  her  and 
pinched  her  and  pulled  her  hair,  but  it  was 
in  vain,  there  was  no  evidence  of  life.  "  It 
is  wonderful,"  said  Jean ;  "  I  am  forced  to 
admit  that  there's  something  in  it  after  all. 
Does  every  one  else  believe  ?  "  The  rest  of 
the  girls  declared  they  did,  and  then  Jean  sug- 
gested that  Bess  awaken  her. 

"Very  well,  girls;  it's  perfectly  simple," 
and  she  went  up  to  the  couch  and  began  rub- 
bing Lois's  forehead  and  temples,  saying 
firmly,  "  You  are  about  to  awaken,  fair  one ; 
open  thine  eyes.  Now  you  are  awaking, 
you  know  you  cannot  help  it.  You  are  com- 
ing to  life  again,  awaken."  But  Lois  did  not 
seem  to  open  her  eyes  and  did  not  move.  She 
lay  as  rigid  as  when  she  first  went  into  the 


210   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

sleep.  Bess  worked  over  her  as  hard  as  she 
knew  how,  but  could  not  awaken  her.  Again 
and  again  she  shook  her  until  it  seemed  as 
though  she  must  open  her  eyes  if  there  was 
any  life  in  her. 

"Oh,  girls,  what  shall  I  do?  I  can't  get 
her  to  wake  up.  It's  never  been  like  this  be- 
fore. Suppose  she  never  comes  out  of  it.  I'll 
be  a  murderer.  Oh,  I  promise  you  if  she  ever 
does  wake  up  that  I'll  never  try  to  hypnotize 
any  one  again !  " 

"  Hadn't  we  better  call  in  the  doctor  or 
some  of  the  older  girls?  "  said  Jean. 

"  No,  not  yet ;  I'm  afraid  to.  What  would 
they  say  to  me?  And  if  I  put  her  to  sleep, 
I'm  the  only  one  that  can  awaken  her.  Don't 
you  know  that  other  people  have  no  influence 
over  them?"  and  she  began  again  to  work 
over  her.  It  was  no  use,  and  now  the  other 
girls  began  to  get  as  frightened  as  Bess,  but 
there  seemed  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait. 

At  last  the  9.45  warning  bell  rang  and  the 
girls  knew  they  must  leave,  especially  those 
who  lived  in  other  houses.  With  tears  in  her 
eyes  Bess  said  good-night  to  the  girls  and 


MIDYEAR'S  211 

begged  them  to  say  nothing  about  the  matter, 
assuring  them  that  she  knew  in  time  she  could 
awaken  Lois.  After  the  door  closed  on  the 
last  girl,  Bess  returned  to  the  sleeping  girl 
on  the  couch.  She  was  breathing  deeply  and 
so  Bess  did  not  despair  of  her  life.  She  sat 
beside  her  and  called  and  called  to  her  to 
awaken.  The  moments  flew  by  and  the  ter- 
rified girl  felt  that  she  must  control  herself 
before  she  could  hope  to  control  another.  She 
must  make  a  supreme  effort  to  undo  the  harm 
she  had  done.  She  left  the  couch  and  walked 
slowly  up  and  down  the  room,  saying  to  her- 
self, "Be  calm;  it  must  come  out  all  right; 
she  will  awaken." 

After  perhaps  half  an  hour  she  sat  down 
again  on  the  couch  and  looked  Lois  hard  in 
the  face.  Then  she  rubbed  her  forehead  and 
temples  exactly  as  she  had  done  when  she  sent 
her  into  the  stupor,  and  almost  screamed,  "  You 
must  awaken;  you  must  awaken,  Lois,  or  I 
shall  go  mad."  There  was  not  a  sign  of 
awakening,  and  heartsick  and  discouraged 
Bess  sank  upon  her  knees  almost  exhausted. 
She  prayed  softly  to  her  Father  in  Heaven 


212   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

for  help  in  this  awful  moment,  and  then  for 
the  last  time  whispered,  "  Oh,  Lois,  Lois, 
awaken ! "  and  she  saw  her  eyelids  begin  to 
move  very  slightly  and  then  gradually  open. 
"  Oh,  Lois,  you're  really  awake  again ;  you're 
awake  again.  I'm  so  thankful !  " 

" '  Thankful,'  Bess,  why,  what  do  you 
mean?  What  are  you  doing  on  your  knees 
by  my  couch  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  Lois,  except  praying  that  you'd 
wake  up.  Don't  you  remember  anything 
about  to-night  ?  " 

"  No;  all  I  know  is  that  I'm  very,  very  tired 
and  I  feel  as  though  I  could  sleep  a  week. 
.What  happened?" 

"  Why,  to-night  to  prove  to  the  girls  that 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  hypnotism,  I  put  you 
to  sleep  and  I  couldn't  make  you  wake  up. 
I've  been  frightened  almost  to  death  ever  since 
and  I'll  never,  never  try  to  hypnotize  anybody 
again  as  long  as  I  live.  I  wish  I'd  never  heard 
anything  about  the  subject.  But  you're  all 
right  now,  and  that's  all  I  care  about.  I've 
had  the  most  awful  experience  of  my  life. 
Look  and  see  if  my  hair  has  turned  white. 


MIDYEAR'S  213 

We'd  better  go  to  bed  now,  but  I  must  let  the 
other  girls  know  the  first  thing  in  the  morn- 
ing, for  they  were  all  as  frightened  as  I." 

When  the  psychology  class  met  next  morn- 
ing it  was  a  pretty  sober  little  group  that  had 
studied  together  the  night  before,  and  two  of 
them,  at  least,  were  a  trifle  pale.  Miss  Wash- 
burn  could  not  understand  what  had  fallen 
over  the  class,  for  it  was  generally  very  lively 
and  at  times  troublesome.  As  luck  would 
have  it,  after  she  had  finished  her  lecture  she 
called  on  Bess  Johnson  to  talk  on  the  subject 
of  hypnotism.  To  the  astonishment  of  the 
class  (excepting,  of  course,  her  companions  of 
the  night  before),  who  were  accustomed  to 
Bess'  brilliant  recitations,  they  heard  her  say, 
"  I  know  nothing  about  it,"  and  she  turned 
as  pale  as  though  she  had  seen  her  father's 
ghost,  and  the  question  was  passed  on  to  Ger- 
trude Jackson,  next  on  the  list,  who  discussed 
it  at  some  length,  until  the  bell  rang  and  the 
class  was  dismissed. 

From  psychology  Jean  went  into  her  Eng- 
lish class  and  took  her  usual  seat  in  the  ex- 
treme left-hand  corner  near  the  open  door.  It 


214   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

was  theme  day,  and  Miss  Whiting  was  to  read 
some  examples  of  what  she  considered  good 
and  bad  themes.  Jean  listened  in  vain  for 
one  of  hers  among  the  good  ones,  for  she  had 
tried  hard  and  was  beginning  to  enjoy  her 
English  work.  But  among  the  themes  Miss 
Whiting  considered  poor  because  of  their 
faulty  construction  and  poor  English  she  rec- 
ognized two  of  her  recent  attempts.  She  was 
hurt,  and  the  tears  sprang  to  her  eyes  to  think 
of  Miss  Whiting's  reading  two  of  her  themes 
before  the  entire  class,  as  though  one  wouldn't 
have  been  enough!  Of  course  everybody 
would  know  they  were  hers,  although  she  over- 
looked the  fact  that  no  names  were  mentioned 
with  the  criticisms.  She  felt  her  face  turn- 
ing scarlet  and  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks. 
She  couldn't  stay  there  to  hear  more  of  her 
awful  themes  read  and  she  didn't  dare  ask 
Miss  Whiting  to  be  excused.  She  gave  one 
glance  at  the  open  door  and  her  mind  was 
made  up.  Knowing  Miss  Whiting  was  very 
near-sighted,  she  stole  very  quietly  out  of  the 
room  before  Miss  Whiting  or  hardly  any  of 
the  girls  were  aware  of  it. 


MIDYEAR'S  215 

No  sooner  out  than  she  regretted  her  child- 
ish action  and  she  wished  she  were  back  in 
the  room.  She  wandered  over  to  the  library, 
determined  to  wait  until  the  recitation  was 
over  and  then  go  to  Miss  Whiting  and  apolo- 
gize. After  the  class  was  dismissed  and  just 
as  Miss  Whiting  was  gathering  up  the  papers 
on  her  desk,  Jean  walked  up  to  her,  smiling 
sweetly.  "  IVe  come  to  offer  you  an  apology, 
Miss  Whiting.  I  purposely  left  your  class 
last  hour  in  the  midst  of  your  reading.  I  felt 
so  badly  when  you  read  two  of  my  miserable 
little  themes  that  I  thought  I  couldn't  stand  it 
a  moment  longer,  and  as  my  seat  is  near  the 
door  I  took  French  leave  when  you  were  not 
looking  in  my  direction.  It  was  a  very  silly 
thing  to  do,  and  I  realized  it  the  moment  I 
was  out  of  the  room.  I'm  very  sorry  and 
hope  you  will  accept  my  apology." 

"  Why,  certainly,  Miss  Cabot.  How  very 
thoughtful  of  you  to  come  and  tell  me,  for 
unless  you  had  I  should  have  known  nothing 
about  it.  Let  us  sit  down  a  moment  and  talk 
over  your  work.  This  will  be  a  good,  time 
for  conference,  if  you  can  spare  the  time." 


216   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  said  Jean,  as  she  sat  down 
in  the  chair  beside  Miss  Whiting. 

"  Let  me  see,  Miss  Cabot,  do  you  care  for 
the  subject  of  English?  It  seems  to  me  I  had 
got  the  impression  that  you  did  not.  Just 
lately,  though,  I  have  noticed  a  slight  change 
for  the  better,  in  your  theme  work.  You  seem 
to  be  grasping  things  as  though  you  wouldn't 
let  go.  I  hope  you  won't.  Things  about  you 
are  beginning  to  interest  you,  and  you're  de- 
scribing them  excellently.  However,  your 
constructions  are  faulty,  but  that  is  a  common 
fault  in  freshman  work,  and  I  read  your  theme 
because  it  furnished  criticism  applicable  to  so 
many  other  papers.  You  must  not  take  criti- 
cism so  to  heart,  for  it  is  given  always  with 
the  hope  of  helping  others.  I  thank  you  again 
for  coming  to  tell  me  what  you  did.  Shall 
we  walk  down  together?  I  go  as  far  as  Miss 
Thatcher's." 

When  Jean  entered  the  dining-room  one  of 
the  freshmen  called  out,  "  Were  you  ill  in 
English,  Jean?" 

"Yes,  temporarily  indisposed,  but  I'm  bet- 


MIDYEAR'S  217 

ter  now,  thank  you,"  and  smiling,  she  took  her 
seat. 

When  the  examination  lists  were  posted, 
Jean  found  she  had  psychology  and  German 
on  Tuesday,  French  and  English  on  Wednes- 
day, and  music  on  Thursday.  Each  examina- 
tion was  to  last  from  two  to  three  hours  and 
was  to  cover  all  the  work  of  the  first  semester. 
The  only  one  she  did  not  dread  was  music, 
and  she  trembled  most  at  thought  of  French 
and  German. 

Monday  she  crammed  and  crammed  on  her 
German  verbs  and  vocabularies,  and  at  supper 
declared  she  would  not  take  another  look  at 
them,  for  she  had  planned  to  spend  the  entire 
evening  reading  over  psychology  notes.  When 
Elizabeth  came  upstairs  after  supper,  she  said 
she  was  going  to  spend  the  night  in  Mabel  Liv- 
ingston's room,  so  they  could  study  mathe- 
matics together.  Mabel's  room-mate  was 
away  from  college  that  night,  so  Elizabeth 
could  have  her  bed.  She  collected  her  books 
and  kissed  Jean  good-night,  warning  her  not 
to  sit  up  all  night  to  study. 


218   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  After  you  go,  Elizabeth,  I'm  going  to  lock 
the  door  and  I  won't  open  it  if  people  knock 
all  night,"  she  called  out  to  Elizabeth  as  she 
left  the  room.  She  propped  herself  up  on  the 
couch  and  drew  up  the  table  with  her  drop- 
light  upon  it,  and  opened  her  psychology  note- 
book to  begin  reading  her  notes.  How  small 
her  writing  looked  and  how  many  pages  there 
were  to  be  read!  Soon  the  lines  and  words 
began  to  run  together,  and  all  unbeknown  to 
her  the  note-book  slipped  to  the  floor  but 
landed  so  softly  that  she  did  not  hear  it  at  all. 

The  next  thing  she  knew  she  was  sitting 
up  on  the  couch  staring  first  at  the  burning 
light  on  the  table  and  then  at  the  bright  sun- 
shine pouring  into  the  window  and  then  at 
the  open  note-book  on  the  floor,  and  finally 
at  herself  fully  clothed  as  though  ready  for 
recitation.  She  looked  at  her  watch  and 
found  it  had  stopped,  but  she  listened  for 
sounds  around  her  and  she  heard  girls  talking 
and  walking  about  as  though  it  were  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day.  "  What  has  happened  ?  "  she 
asked  herself.  "  Am  I  another  Rip  Van 
Winkle?  "  She  jumped  up,  unlocked  the  door 


MIDYEAR'S  219 

and  ran  into  the  next  room.  "  What  time 
is  it,  Ann?  "  she  asked. 

"  Ten  minutes  past  eight,  Jean.  Where 
were  you  at  breakfast  ?  " 

"  Well,  if  this  isn't  the  greatest  joke  you 
ever  heard  about.  I  haven't  had  any  break- 
fast. I  lay  down  on  my  couch  last  night  right 
after  supper  to  study  for  my  psychology  exam 
and  the  next  thing  I  know  it's  ten  minutes  past 
eight  and  I've  been  asleep  all  that  time  and 
haven't  done  a  bit  of  studying.  I've  had  these 
clothes  on  since  yesterday  morning  and  haven't 
combed  my  hair  yet,  but  I've  got  to  go  to 
Chapel,  for  I  don't  dare  cut  and  my  exam  comes 
the  first  thing  afterward,  and  I  haven't  looked 
at  it.  What  shall  I  do?  If  she'll  only  ask  me 
something  I  know,  which  is  little  enough,  I 
admit,  I'm  saved.  Seems  to  me  I  dreamed 
she  asked  us  to  write  fully  on  the  subject  of 
memory  and  give  illustrations.  I'll  just  look 
over  the  headings  on  that  subject,"  and  she 
sat  down  where  she  was  and  opened  her  note- 
book and  read  strenuously  until  the  chapel  bell 
rang. 

She  smiled  to  herself  as  she  walked  into 


220   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Miss  Washburn's  room  and  saw  the  blue  books 
on  the  desks.  "  To  think  I've  studied  just  ten 
minutes  for  a  three-hour  exam !  "  she  said  to 
herself.  But  when  she  took  up  the  printed 
list  of  questions  and  read  the  very  first,  "  Out- 
line, develop  fully,  and  give  illustrations  of  the 
subject  of  memory,"  she  smiled  still  more  and 
said,  "  Well,  if  I  hadn't  fallen  asleep  just  when 
I  did,  I'd  never  have  dreamed  we'd  have  that 
question.  As  it  is,  I'm  all  prepared  and  it's 
the  only  thing  I  know  anything  about,"  and  she 
wrote  over  two  hours  and  felt  confident  that 
she  had  passed  in  a  good  paper. 

The  German  examination  which  followed 
was  much  harder,  and  it  seemed  as  though 
every  time  she  tried  to  think  of  the  parts  of 
an  irregular  German  verb  the  corresponding 
French  word  popped  into  her  head.  Right 
ahead  of  her  sat  Anne  Cockran,  writing  away 
at  such  a  rapid  rate  that  Jean  felt  sure  she 
knew  the  correct  answer  to  every  question  and 
she  wished  once  or  twice  that  she  could  get  a 
glimpse  of  her  paper.  Once  she  leaned  for- 
ward a  little  and  as  she  did  so  her  glance  fell 
on  Olive  Windman,  who  was  sitting  a  little 


MIDYEAR'S  221 

ahead  of  her  to  the  right.  Jean  saw  her  take 
a  little  paper  covered  with  very  fine  writing 
from  the  front  of  her  shirt-waist  and  conceal 
it  in  her  lap.  She  looked  quickly  at  Fraulein 
Weimer,  but  found  her  busy  correcting  note- 
books; then  she  looked  down  at  the  paper  in 
her  lap  and  began  writing  again.  It  was  the 
first  time  that  Jean  had  seen  open  cheating, 
although  she  knew  it  occurred  again  and  again. 
The  very  idea  of  looking  at  Anne  Cockran's 
paper  faded  as  quickly  from  her  mind  as  it 
had  entered  it,  and  she  blushed  at  the  thought 
of  what  she  might  have  done. 

At  the  end  of  the  examination,  Fraulein 
Weimer  announced  that  she  had  reason  to  sus- 
pect certain  members  of  the  class  of  dishonesty, 
and  all  those  who  had  given  or  taken  help  in 
any  way  during  the  examination  might  not 
pass  in  their  examination  books.  How  thank- 
ful Jean  was  that  the  number  did  not  include 
herself,  and  she  was  shocked  as  she  laid  down 
her  examination  book  on  the  table  to  find  that 
it  rested  on  one  marked  "  Olive  Windman." 

The  French  examination  next  day  was  hard 
from  beginning  to  end,  and  although  she  did 


222   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

her  very  best  she  felt  she  had  failed.  English 
was  easy,  and  she  finished  in  less  than  two 
hours.  Her  music  examination  took  most  of 
Thursday  afternoon,  for  part  of  it  was  on  the 
piano  and  the  rest  on  harmony.  When  she 
had  written  the  last  note  and  signed  her  name 
she  breathed  several  deep  sighs  of  relief  and 
started  for  the  gym. 

There  were  two  whole  days  of  vacation  for 
her,  for  she  had  no  more  examinations  and  she 
meant  to  put  most  of  her  time  into  basket-ball 
practice,  as  the  list  of  freshman  candidates 
was  to  be  posted  the  next  Monday,  and  she 
hoped  against  hope  to  see  her  name  among 
them. 

Monday  was  registration  day  for  the  second 
half-year,  and  every  one  reported  at  the  office 
at  the  appointed  time  to  find  her  marks  and 
the  number  of  hours  she  would  be  allowed  to 
take  second  half.  When  Jean  received  her 
notification  she  found  she  had  passed  in  every- 
thing but  her  French  and  she  was  requested 
to  see  Mile.  Franchant  at  once.  With  fear 
and  trembling  she  approached  her  room,  for 
she  felt  she  was  about  to  be  told  that  she  must 


MIDYEAR'S  223 

drop  French  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  She 
peeped  into  the  room  and  saw  there  were  no 
other  students  there,  so  then  she  walked  up 
to  Mile.  Franchant's  desk,  where  she  sat  writ- 
ing a  letter. 

"  Come  right  in,  Mile.  Cabot.  I  want  to 
speak  to  you  just  one  moment.  I  had  to 
report  a  failure  in  your  French  work  first 
semester,  but  it  is  not  so  bad  a  one  that  you 
must  drop  the  subject.  You  have  improved 
since  I  warned  you  and  I  think  with  good 
hard  work  you  will  pass  at  the  June  exami- 
nation. If  I  can  help  you  in  any  way  I  shall 
be  glad  to  do  so." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Jean,  and  she  left  the 
room  saying  to  herself,  "  Well,  I've  lost  my 
chance  at  basket-ball,  but  I'll  pass  that  subject 
in  June  or  know  the  reason  why." 


CHAPTER  XII 

BEFORE  THE  FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE  GAME 

AFTER  dinner,  Peggy  Allison  seized 
Jean  by  the  arm  and  insisted  that 
they  go  up  on  the  hill  to  see  if  the 
lists  of  basket-ball  candidates  were  posted. 
Jean  knew  in  her  heart  that  her  name  would 
not  be  among  them,  for  the  one  fast  rule  of 
Ashton  was  that  no  girl  was  considered  eligible 
for  athletic  contests  unless  her  work  was  sat- 
isfactory in  every  department.  For  a  moment 
she  wanted  to  refuse  Peggy,  but  she  felt  she 
must  know  about  her  disappointment  sooner 
or  later,  and  she  might  as  well  tell  her  now. 
So  they  walked  slowly  over  to  the  gym  and 
Peggy  found  Jean  very  quiet. 

"What's  the  matter,  Jean?  What's  trou- 
bling you  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  except  I'm  awfully  disgusted 
with  myself  and  you  will  be,  too,  for  you 
aren't  going  to  find  my  name  among  the  basket- 
224 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  225 

ball  candidates.  I  didn't  pass  in  my  French, 
so  of  course  I  can't  play.  I  knew  all  along 
it  was  going  to  be  a  toss-up  whether  I'd  get 
through  or  not,  but  I  hoped  that  lately  I'd  done 
well  enough  to  make  up  for  my  poor  begin- 
ning. However,  I've  made  up  my  mind  to 
one  thing,  and  that  is  if  I  can't  try  for  the 
basket-ball  team  I'll  do  something  here  before 
I  leave." 

"  That's  the  proper  spirit,  Jean.  I'm  aw- 
fully sorry  about  your  French,  but  every  one 
admits  that  Mile.  Franchant  is  the  hardest 
marker  in  college  and  flunks  more  freshmen 
than  all  the  other  profs  together.  But  there's 
tennis  left  for  you  in  the  spring  and  the  big 
tournament  in  June.  Why  don't  you  try  to 
take  the  championship  away  from  Natalie  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  couldn't  beat  her,  but  I'll  go  into  the 
tournament  if  my  French  is  all  right.  I'll 
study  it  morning,  noon,  and  night  and  I'll  pass 
it,  too,  for  I've  made  up  my  mind.  I'm  not 
going  over  to  basket-ball  practice  any  more. 
Not  that  I'm  grouchy  because  I  can't  play,  but 
I'm  going  to  put  that  time  into  studying.  I'll 
be  the  very  greasiest  grind  you  ever  saw,  with 


226   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

a  towel  around  my  throbbing  head  as  I  burn 
the  midnight  oil  night  after  night  and  drive 
my  little  room-mate  to  distraction.  Speak- 
ing of  Elizabeth,  do  you  know,  she's  doing 
splendid  work  in  oratory.  In  class  last  week 
she  astonished  every  one.  She  gave  that  little 
poem  *  Carcasson,'  and  when  she  had  finished, 
Miss  Moulton  said,  '  Excellent,  Miss  Fairfax, 
I'm  going  to  ask  you  to  give  that  to  us  again 
next  week ;  it's  something  for  us  to  anticipate.' 
And  Elizabeth  told  me  afterward  that  when 
class  was  dismissed  that  day  *  Moultie  '  stopped 
her  and  congratulated  her  and  told  her  she 
hoped  she  would  enter  prize  speaking.  Eliza- 
beth said  that  she  shouldn't  think  of  such  a 
thing,  for  in  the  first  place  she  would  never 
dare  to  get  up  in  the  chapel  before  every  one, 
and  in  the  second  place  she  hadn't  the  time  to 
put  into  it.  But  later  on  I'm  going  to  try  to 
persuade  her  to  enter,  and  I  think  she  will." 

"  I  hope  she  will,  Jean.  Look  at  those 
girls  around  the  bulletin  board.  We'll  never 
get  within  a  mile  of  it." 

"Oh,  yes,  we  will,  Peg;  wait  a  minute," 
and  before  they  realized  it  both  girls  were 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  227 

gazing  at  the  long  list  of  names.  There  were 
two  Merton  House  girls  among  them,  Anne 
Cockran  for  the  freshmen,  and  Sallie  Law- 
rence for  the  sophomores,  and  as  Jean  saw 
their  names  she  hid  her  own  disappointment 
by  saying  gayly,  "  Oh,  isn't  it  splendid  that 
there  are  two  Merton  girls?  I  hope  they'll 
make  the  teams.  Won't  it  be  exciting  to  have 
the  two  rivals  in  the  house  before  the  game?  " 

"  Oh,  Jean,  you'll  find  excitement  enough 
before  the  game  and  after  it,  too,  for  from 
now  on  there'll  be  plenty  of  spirit  between 
you  freshies  and  the  sophs.  Be  on  the  watch, 
for  you  never  can  tell  what  the  sophs  will  do 
next.  You  must  be  particularly  careful  about 
your  flags  and  the  class  banquet,  for  those  are 
the  really  great  tests  of  strength  or  weakness 
of  the  freshmen  class.  Who's  your  chairman 
of  the  flag  committee?  " 

"  Florence  Cummings,  over  in  North,  and 
I'm  fortunate  or  unfortunate  enough,  which- 
ever you  consider  it,  to  be  on  the  committee 
with  four  others.  We  haven't  met  yet,  but 
I  think  there's  a  meeting  next  week." 

"  Well,    it's   a   mighty   hard   committee  to 


228   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

serve  on,  and  I  don't  envy  you  one  bit.  I  hope 
you'll  come  out  all  right  and  win  and  float 
your  flags,  but  make  up  your  mind  for  some 
excitement."  The  two  girls  spent  the  rest  of 
the  afternoon  walking  over  to  Lookout  Hill 
and  the  conversation  changed  from  basket- 
ball and  class  rivalry  to  everything  imaginable 
which  could  interest  two  such  wide-awake  col- 
lege girls. 

Classes  settled  down  again  after  the  excite- 
ment of  midyear's,  and  if  there  were  heart- 
aches and  bitter  disappointments  most  of  them 
were  covered  up  with  good  resolutions  and 
hard  work.  The  girls  who  had  failed  and 
were  obliged  to  return  home  were  missed  for 
a  little  and  then  forgotten.  The  seniors  were 
realizing  that  it  was  their  last  half-year  and 
were  crowding  as  much  as  possible  into  it; 
the  juniors  seemed  to  be  devoting  themselves 
to  social  activities;  and  the  lower  classes  were 
developing  class  spirit  and  two  rival  basket- 
ball teams. 

It  had  been  a  custom  from  time  immemorial 
at  Ashton  to  have  an  annual  basket-ball  game 
between  the  freshmen  and  sophomores  to  de- 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  229 

cide  which  class  might  carry  its  flags  for  the 
rest  of  the  year  at  all  college  events.  If  the 
freshmen  were  defeated  in  the  game  they 
gave  up  their  flags  to  the  sophomores,  and  if 
the  sophomores  were  defeated  they  gave  their 
flags  to  the  freshmen.  For  several  days  be- 
fore the  game,  and  especially  the  one  immedi- 
ately preceding,  each  class  strove  to  have  one 
of  its  flags  in  some  conspicuous  place  where 
it  could  remain  without  being  hauled  down  by 
the  rival  class.  It  always  took  carefully  laid 
plans  on  the  part  of  the  freshmen,  and  great 
precaution  in  executing  them  to  outwit  the 
wily  sophs,  and  few  freshmen  classes  could 
boast  among  their  victories  the  successful  rais- 
ing of  their  flag.  Then  after  the  basket-ball 
game,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  freshman  class 
held  a  banquet,  either  to  celebrate  its  victory  or 
find  consolation  in  its  defeat.  If  the  sopho- 
mores could  prevent  the  banquet  from  taking 
place,  all  the  more  glory  for  them,  and  they 
watched  and  plotted  and  made  life  miserable 
for  the  anxious  freshmen. 

Classes  come  and  classes  go,  but  customs  live 
on  forever,  and  1914  and  1915  were  no  ex- 


230   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

ceptions  to  the  rule  and  had  made  great  prep- 
arations for  the  fray.  Jean  Cabot  and  the 
other  members  of  the  flag  committee  held 
secret  meetings  for  days  and  days  at  Edith 
McAllister's  house.  When  Edith  came  to 
Ashton,  her  mother,  being  the  only  other 
member  of  her  family,  had  come  with  her 
and  hired  a  small  house  in  the  shadow  of  the 
college  where  the  two  lived  happily  together. 
Mrs.  McAllister  had  a  sewing  machine  and 
could  help  the  girls  with  their  sewing.  They 
had  over  a  hundred  and  fifty  small  flags  to 
make  in  order  that  every  girl  in  the  class  might 
have  one  to  carry  to  the  game,  besides  several 
large  ones  to  display  in  the  gymnasium.  The 
college  color  was  blue,  and  1915  had  chosen 
white  as  its  class  color,  so  the  numerals, 
I9I5>  were  to  be  of  white  and  sewed  on  the 
blue  background.  The  flags  were  made  of 
cheese-cloth  and  had  to  be  cut  out  and 
hemmed  and  then  the  numerals  were  to  be 
stitched  on.  Only  a  few  of  the  girls  knew 
how  to  run  a  sewing  machine,  so  it  took  some 
time  to  get  them  done. 

But  at  last  they  were  finished  and  the  next 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  231 

thing  was  to  know  what  to  do  with  them,  for 
if  one  of  the  sophs  scented  them  out  and  cap- 
tured them  they  were  lost  forever  and  the 
freshmen  disgraced.  Finally  it  was  decided 
to  lock  them  in  a  small  trunk  which  belonged 
to  Mrs.  McAllister,  and  the  trunk  was  to  be 
placed  in  the  attic  and  the  door  locked  and 
the  two  keys  put  on  a  ribbon  and  worn  round 
Mrs.  McAllister's  neck  night  and  day.  The 
one  flag  which  the  freshmen  hoped  to  fly 
before  the  game  was  entrusted  to  the  chair- 
man, Florence  Cummings,  who  sewed  it  on 
to  her  petticoat  the  day  she  carried  it  to  her 
dormitory.  All  the  other  flags,  however,  were 
to  remain  in  their  hiding-place  until  the  day  of 
the  game. 

Each  dormitory  had  girls  from  both 
classes  to  act  as  spies  and  watch  all  proceed- 
ings and  report  suspicious  actions  to  a  general 
committee.  Jean  was  chosen  from  the  fresh- 
man class  in  Merton  and  found  her  hands 
full.  On  the  day  before  the  game,  very  early 
in  the  morning,  it  was  whispered  around  the 
Hill  that  the  sophomore  flag  was  flying  in  the 
middle  of  the  "  Pond,"  as  the  girls  called  the 


232   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

small  open  reservoir,  just  back  of  the  college 
buildings,  which  supplied  a  neighboring  city 
with  water.  It  did  not  take  long  for  the 
rumors  to  be  verified,  and  in  a  few  moments 
nearly  every  girl  in  college  had  been  to  the 
"  Pond  "  to  see  the  small  blue  and  orange  flag 
floating  in  the  water.  There  was  much  spec- 
ulation as  to  how  it  could  have  been  placed 
there,  for  the  water,  which  was  some  ten 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  was 
held  in  by  solid  walls  of  masonry  which 
seemed  impossible  to  scale.  But  there  was 
the  flag,  holding  its  head  as  high  as  any  of 
the  sophs  who  said  nothing,  but  went  about 
their  recitations  with  a  satisfied  smile  upon 
their  faces  which  seemed  to  say,  "  You  see 
our  flag;  well,  get  it  if  you  can." 

The  freshmen  said  nothing,  but  one  could 
see  disappointment  on  every  face.  The  flag 
committee  held  an  animated  session  at  Mrs. 
McAllister's  and  then  started  out  to  work. 
Not  a  sign  of  a  freshman  flag  all  day  long 
and  apparently  there  was  to  be  no  attempt  to 
remove  the  sophomore  one,  for  to  the  casual 
observer  that  seemed  impossible.  There  was 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  233 

not  a  boat  nor  a  ladder,  nor  a  rope  anywhere 
in  evidence  around  the  "  Pond,"  and  the 
grumbly  old  watchman  sat  in  his  little  box 
of  a  house  at  the  northwest  corner  placidly 
smoking  his  pipe  as  though  nothing  had  hap- 
pened, all  the  while  refusing  to  offer  any 
suggestions  to  the  numberless  inquiries  which 
poured  in  upon  him.  At  nightfall  the  flag 
was  still  where  it  had  been  all  day  and  the 
lofty  sophs  felt  the  victory  was  theirs,  for 
the  freshmen,  to  all  appearances,  had  given 
up  the  attempt  to  capture  it.  There  was 
tense  excitement  in  all  the  dormitories  dur- 
ing supper  and  the  early  hours  of  the  even- 
ing, but  it  seemed  to  subside  a  little  as  bed- 
time approached. 

As  Elizabeth  and  Jean  turned  out  their 
lights  and  crept  into  bed,  Elizabeth  said, 
"  Isn't  it  a  shame,  Jean,  to  be  defeated  at  the 
very  outset?  It  looks  bad  for  the  game  in 
spite  of  all  belief  in  signs.  They  say  the  even- 
year  classes  never  are  lucky,  you  know. 
Aren't  you  tired  after  such  a  strenuous  day? 
I  for  one  will  be  glad  when  the  suspense  is  all 
over  and  the  game  is  won  or  lost.  You'll  be 


234   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

worn  to  a  thread  if  you  do  much  more  running 
around." 

"  Yes,  I  am  tired,  Beth ;  but  it's  worth  while 
working  for  the  class.  Luck  does  seem 
against  us  now,  but  don't  give  up  yet;  there's 
plenty  of  time  for  things  to  happen.  Good 
night,"  and  Jean  turned  on  her  pillow  as 
though  to  sleep. 

Shortly  after  twelve  o'clock,  if  one  had 
been  looking  she  might  have  seen  girls  hurry- 
ing from  the  different  dormitories  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Mrs.  McAllister's  house.  On  the 
small  porch  stood  Edith  and  her  mother  ready 
to  welcome  the  girls.  "  Come  into  the  house 
and  drink  some  hot  coffee  before  we  start, 
for  it's  bitter  cold  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
it's  March.  What  time  do  you  expect  your 
man?" 

The  girls  were  so  excited  that  they  de- 
clared they  did  not  want  the  coffee,  but  pre- 
ferred to  wait  on  the  porch  for  the  arrival 
of  the  automobile  which  was  to  bring  Mr. 
Doherty,  professional  swimmer  and  diver. 

"  He  promised  to  be  here  at  quarter-past 
twelve,"  said  Florence  Cummings,  "  but  I'm 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  235 

sure  it's  that  now.  What  if  he  shouldn't 
come  after  all,  and  spoil  our  plans?  I  wish 
I'd  offered  him  more  money,  but  he  seemed 
perfectly  satisfied  with  my  proposition.  I 
think  I'd  almost  be  tempted  to  jump  in  myself 
if  he  didn't  come.  I  don't  just  like  the  idea 
of  an  ice-cold  bath,  but  I  could  do  the  swim 
all  right.  Are  the  ladder  and  rope  here? 
Joe  said  he  would  bring  them  down  after  ten." 

"Yes,"  said  Edith,  "they're  in  the  cellar 
with  the  lantern.  Isn't  it  fortunate  that 
there  isn't  a  moon?  It's  dark  as  a  pocket, 
so  no  one  can  see  us.  I  can  hear  an  automo- 
bile now.  It  must  be  the  Hon.  Mr.  Doherty." 

In  a  moment  a  small  roadster  drew  up  in 
front  of  the  porch  and  a  stalwart  youth 
alighted  and  approached  the  group.  Florence 
Cummings  greeted  him  with,  "  Good  evening, 
is  this  Mr.  Doherty?  It's  so  dark  I  can 
hardly  see  you,  but  I'm  Miss  Cummings  who 
interviewed  you  this  afternoon." 

"  Yes,  Miss  Cummings,  it's  me." 

"  I  was  beginning  to  fear  you  weren't 
coming.  You  see  it's  very  important  work 
you  have  to  do  for  us  to-night  and  I  think 


236   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

we'd  better  begin  at  once.  Everything  is 
ready  and  we  will  do  exactly  as  you  sug- 
gested this  afternoon." 

"  Yes,  mum.  I'm  sorry  to  be  late,  but  me 
auto  broke  down  jest  after  I  was  leavin'  Bos- 
ton and  it  took  me  some  time  to  fix  it,  but 
I'm  ready  now." 

And  then  the  little  procession  started, 
Mr.  Doherty  carrying  one  end  of  the  long 
ladder  and  two  of  the  girls  helping  on  the 
other  end.  The  other  girls  followed  in  the 
rear  with  Mrs.  McAllister  to  chaperon  them. 
They  took  a  long  roundabout  way  to  avoid 
crossing  the  campus,  and  all  waited  a  moment 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  while  Jean  hastened  up 
to  the  "  Pond  "  to  see  if  by  any  chance  some 
of  the  sophs  were  on  guard.  Not  a  trace 
could  she  find  of  a  girl,  so  she  ran  back  to 
the  others  who  anxiously  awaited  her.  Then 
they  all,  silently  and  cautiously,  followed  her 
up  to  the  spot  agreed  upon  for  the  work. 

They  had  chosen  the  end  of  the  reservoir 
farthest  away  from  the  college,  and  Mr. 
Doherty  let  down  the  long  ladder  until  it 
reached  the  water.  The  heavy  ropes  which 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  237 

were  tied  securely  around  the  ends  of  the  lad- 
der he  trailed  along  the  ground  and  tied 
firmly  around  the  base  of  a  tree  which  stood 
near  by.  Then  taking  off  his  overcoat  and 
suit  of  clothes  which  covered  his  woolen  bath- 
ing suit,  he  crept  down  the  ladder  and  silently 
dropped  into  the  water  and  swam  toward  the 
center  of  the  reservoir.  It  took  him  some 
time  to  locate  the  little  flag  and  loose  it  from 
its  anchor,  but  finally  it  was  done  and  he 
swam  back  and  climbed  the  ladder  and 
dropped  the  flag  into  Florence  Cummings' 
lap.  Then  he  drew  up  the  ladder,  untied  the 
ropes,  wrapped  his  fur  coat  around  him  and 
they  hurried  back  to  Mrs.  McAllister's  where 
the  swimmer  took  a  hot  bath  and  a  rub-down 
and  drank  what  seemed  to  the  girls  gallons 
of  coffee.  Then  he  jumped  into  his  auto- 
mobile and  was  off  to  the  city. 

It  took  the  girls  several  moments  to  realize 
that  what  they  had  been  working  for  so  hard 
really  had  been  accomplished  and  the  coveted 
sophomore  flag  was  here  in  their  possession. 

"Now  what  shall  we  do  with  it?"  said 
Florence  Cummings. 


238   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  I  think  the  best  place  for  it  is  in  the 
trunk  with  the  others,"  said  Jean,  and  the  rest 
agreed.  Thereupon  Mrs.  McAllister  re- 
moved the  keys  from  her  neck  and  Edith  and 
Florence  took  two  candles  and  went  up  to 
the  attic  and  placed  the  flag  with  the  others, 
after  which  they  came  downstairs  for  the 
last  consultation  of  the  flag  committee.  Al- 
though they  had  captured  the  sophomore  flag 
they  had  not  yet  displayed  their  own,  and  to 
be  effective  it  must  be  in  evidence  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  and  there  remained  but  a  few 
hours  before  sunrise.  It  was  finally  decided 
to  fly  it  from  the  top  of  one  of  the  dormi- 
tories. It  would  look  like  a  tiny  speck  at  such 
a  height,  but  it  would  be  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  enemy  if  carefully  guarded  until  noon, 
when  hostilities  were  to  stop  until  the  game 
itself.  To  make  everything  fair,  lots  were 
to  be  drawn  and  the  girl  drawing  the  piece 
of  paper  marked  "  3  "  was  to  have  the  honor 
of  flying  the  flag  from  her  dormitory.  Mrs. 
McAllister  cut  the  pieces  of  paper  and 
marked  them  and  then  held  them  out  to  the 
girls.  "  Come,  draw  quickly,  girls,"  and  she 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  239 

approached  Jean,  who  stood  nearest  her. 
Without  hesitation  Jean  drew  the  paper  near- 
est her  and  after  one  look  waved  the  tiny 
white  paper  over  her  head,  crying,  "  The 
die  is  cast!  That  flag  shall  fly  from  Merton 
or  I'll  die  in  the  attempt.  Come,  fellow-con- 
spirators, let  us  away  that  I  may  begin  this 
bloody  business,"  and  the  girls  started  back 
to  the  dormitories,  Mrs.  McAllister  and  Edith 
accompanying  each  one  to  the  doors  of  the 
dormitories,  where  accomplices  from  within 
awaited  their  arrival. 

Anne  Cockran  had  been  chosen  to  guard 
Merton  and  she  fairly  pulled  Jean  into  the 
reading-room  to  hear  about  the  night's  ad- 
venture. "  No,  not  to-night,  Anne,  we've 
too  much  to  do;  we  got  the  flag  all  right  but 
now  you've  got  to  help  me  fly  our  flag  from 
Merton.  Don't  ask  me  any  questions,  just 
do  as  I  say  and  I'll  tell  you  the  rest  in  the 
morning.  Get  some  sweaters  and  heavy 
coats  and  meet  me  at  the  roof -stair  way  as 
soon  as  you  can." 

Each  girl  went  silently  to  her  room  and 
collected  as  much  heavy  clothing  as  she  could 


240  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

find  and  met  as  agreed  upon  at  the  stairway 
on  the  fifth  floor  which  led  to  the  flat  roof 
above.  "  Now,"  said  Jean,  "  I  mean  to  go 
up  on  the  roof  and  nail  this  flag  to  this  flag- 
stick  and  tie  it  to  the  front  projection  of  the 
roof  where  it  can  be  seen  by  every  one  on  the 
Row.  After  I  have  fastened  it  securely  I 
shall  come  down  to  the  stairs  and  lock  the 
door  with  the  key  inside.  I  shall  put  these 
pillows  and  sweaters  and  coats  on  the  stairs 
and  make  myself  as  comfortable  as  possible 
and  stay  there  until  twelve  o'clock,  so  that 
our  flag  may  be  safe.  When  I  want  a  little 
air  I  can  go  up  on  the  roof  or  just  keep  the 
door  open  a  bit.  I've  got  plenty  of  crackers, 
so  I  won't  starve.  It's  lucky  to-morrow  is 
a  holiday,  for  I  won't  be  cutting  and  no  one 
can  say  I  am  breaking  rules.  It's  only  a 
few  hours  now  till  breakfast,  so  I  must  get  a 
little  sleep  and  you,  too,  Anne,  or  you'll  be 
in  no  condition  for  the  game.  I'm  all  right; 
don't  worry  about  me;  1915  will  fly  its  flag, 
even  if  we  are  beaten  at  the  game.  We've 
broken  one  tradition  and  perhaps  we  can  the 
others,"  and  Jean,  shut  the  little  door,  locked 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  241 

it  and  went  up  on  the  roof  to  execute  her 
plans. 

She  had  a  little  electric  light  which  she 
flashed  every  now  and  then  to  guide  her  over 
the  flat  pebbly  roof  until  she  found  the  corner 
projection.  She  nailed  the  flag  to  the  flag- 
stick  and  tied  it  securely  to  the  iron  cornice. 
Her  fingers  seemed  almost  frozen  when  she 
finished,  but  her  heart  beat  wildly  as  she 
thought  that  for  the  first  time  she  was  really 
doing  something  worth  while  for  1915.  If 
she  couldn't  play  basket-ball  she  could  do  this 
much,  which  was  a  victory,  too,  though  in  a 
smaller  way.  She  got  back  to  the  stairway 
and  settled  down  on  her  improvised  couch, 
but,  try  as  she  might,  sleep  would  not  come. 
It  seemed  ages  to  her  before  the  breakfast 
bell  rang  and  then  to  satisfy  her  nervous 
hunger  she  munched  some  hard,  dry  crackers. 
She  knew  now  that  in  a  few  moments  the 
loss  of  the  sophomore  flag  would  be  discov- 
ered and  the  freshman  flag  flying  from  Mer- 
ton  would  enrage  every  Ashton  sophomore 
and  bring  joy  to  the  hearts  of  the  freshmen. 

Suddenly,  it  seemed  to  grow  close  on  the 


242  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

stairs  and  Jean  opened  the  upper  door  and 
breathed  in  the  cool  morning  air  which  re- 
freshed her.  One  look  at  the  flag  assured  her 
that  it  was  safe  and  still  waved  proudly  in  the 
breeze.  She  gazed  out  over  the  college  and 
admitted  to  herself  that  she  was  beginning  to 
love  it  all,  and  was  so  glad  that  she  was  a 
part  of  it,  even  though  only  a  very  small, 
insignificant  part.  With  the  fresh  air  and 
renewed  courage  she  went  back  to  the  stairs 
and  waited.  She  heard  the  girls  go  up  and 
down  the  corridors  and  she  longed  to  ask 
them  about  the  flag,  but  remained  perfectly 
quiet. 

Presently  she  heard  the  sound  of  whispers 
and  stealthy  footsteps  outside  the  door  and 
then  some  one  tried  the  knob.  They  evidently 
expected  to  find  the  door  locked,  for  they 
shook  and  twisted  the  knob  and  rattled  the 
door  as  if  they  meant  to  do  business.  She 
heard  one  girl  say,  "  It's  no  use ;  the  key's  in 
the  lock  and  we  can  do  nothing  unless  we 
break  the  lock.  Now's  our  only  chance  while 
the  freshies  are  at  mass  meeting.  Couldn't 
we  get  some  tools  somewhere?  What  do 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  243 

burglars  generally  use,  anyway,  when  they 
break  open  locks  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  some  one  answered,  "  but 
couldn't  we  get  something  sharp  and  a  screw- 
driver and  then  unfasten  the  screws  and  take 
off  the  lock  on  this  side  and  push  the  handle 
through,  then  .perhaps  we  could  push  the  key 
out  and  pry  open  the  lock.  Let's  go  down 
into  the  basement  and  see  if  we  can  beg,  bor- 
row, or  steal  some  tools  from  Joe.  We'll  tell 
him  we  want  to  fix  our  trunks.  We  must 
hurry,  though,  for  those  freshies  will  be  back 
here  soon  and  on  guard  again,"  and  they  hur- 
ried down  the  corridor. 

Jean  had  listened  to  their  plans  with  in- 
creasing fright.  Suppose  they  did  break  open 
the  lock,  what  could  she  do  then?  They  did 
not  suspect  that  she  was  there,  and  probably 
thought  it  would  be  smooth  sailing  if  they 
could  but  open  the  door.  She  went  up  on  the 
roof  to  see  if  by  any  chance  she  could  find 
something  to  brace  the  door  but  all  that  pre- 
sented themselves  to  her  eyes  were  two 
brooms  which  some  careless  girl  had  left  on 
the  roof  after  sweeping  her  rugs,  and  an  iron 


244  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

shovel  which  had  probably  been  used  last  to 
shovel  a  path  through  the  snow  so  that  the 
maids  could  do  their  sweeping.  Jean  seized 
all  three  implements  of  warfare  and  hurried 
back  again  to  the  stairs  and  braced  the  shovel 
and  then  the  brooms  against  the  door.  She 
knew  the  brooms  would  not  do  much  good 
but  she  had  more  faith  in  the  shovel.  If  the 
sophs  were  determined  to  get  in  at  any  costs, 
she  would  give  them  a  hard  struggle. 

Before  long  the  sophomores  returned  and 
in  addition  to  the  tools,  she  felt  sure  they  had 
brought  more  girls  to  help  out.  There  was  a 
scraping  of  a  file  and  the  turning  of  the 
screw-driver  and  Jean  knew  they  were  work- 
ing as  hard  and  as  fast  as  they  could.  She 
wondered  how  near  twelve  o'clock  it  could  be 
and  if  the  mass  meeting  would  ever  be  over. 
If  they  would  only  hurry,  for  in  a  few 
moments  it  might  be  too  late !  From  the  con- 
versation outside  the  door  the  girls  seemed 
confident  that  they  would  succeed,  and  were 
glorying  in  their  luck.  Just  then  Jean  heard 
many  footsteps  on  the  stairs  and  a  shout  and 
as  she  listened  she  heard  a  tremendous  shout 


BEFORE  THE  GAME  245 

of,  "Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Freshmen;  Rah,  Rah, 
Rah,  1915;  Rah,  Rah,  Rah,  Jean  Cabot;  Rah, 
Rah,  Rah,  the  flag,"  and  she  recognized  Elsie 
Gleason's  voice  saying,  "Unlock  the  door, 
Jean;  it's  twelve  o'clock  and  we've  won! 
We've  come  to  thank  you  for  what  you've 
done.  Come  out  where  we  can  see  you." 
When  Jean  opened  the  door  she  saw  the  hall- 
way and  the  stairs  rilled  with  the  freshmen, 
who  sent  up  cheer  after  cheer  for  what  she 
had  done,  but  there  was  not  a  trace  of  a 
sophomore  except  the  tools  which  they  had 
dropped  in  their  hasty  flight. 

All  Jean  could  say  was,  "  Thank  you,  girls. 
I've  only  done  what  all  of  you  would  have 
done  if  you'd  had  the  opportunity.  I  must 
go  down  now  and  get  ready  for  the  game,  and 
I'm  hungry,  too.  Is  lunch  ready?  " 

Then  the  long  procession  turned  and  led 
Jean  to  her  room,  where  it  gave  one  mighty 
last  cheer  and  then  dispersed,  and  Jean  closed 
the  door  upon  them  and  sank  down  upon  her 
couch  and  cried  for  real  joy. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE   GAME 

A  •  "MtE  game  was  scheduled  to  begin  at 
three  o'clock,  but  long  before  that 
hour  the  great  gymnasium  was 
crowded  with  enthusiastic  supporters  of  the 
rival  teams.  The  sophomores  and  seniors  with 
their  friends  filled  the  right  side  of  the  bal- 
cony, while  the  freshmen  and  juniors  with 
their  friends  were  at  the  left.  At  one  end  of 
the  floor  was  erected  a  platform  for  the  fac- 
ulty, while  on  narrow  benches  on  either  side 
of  the  floor  the  teams  and  officials  were  to  sit. 
The  gymnasium  had  been  gayly  decorated  with 
the  blue  and  white  of  1915  and  the  blue  and 
orange  of  1914;  and  huge  banners  were  hung 
from  the  iron  railing  of  the  balcony. 

As  Jean  was  on  the  flag  committee  she  stood 

at  the  door  and  helped  distribute  flags  to  the 

freshmen.     At  last  every  one  had  been  given 

out,  and  she  hurried  to  her  seat.     Elizabeth 

246 


THE  GAME  247 

and  she  were  both  fortunate  enough  to  draw 
seats  in  the  front  row,  not  side  by  side,  but 
only  separated  by  two  other  freshmen,  Mary 
Boyce  and  Ruth  Witham.  As  she  crowded 
her  way  down  through  the  masses  of  girls 
she  was  stopped  again  and  again  to  be  con- 
gratulated by  those  who  had  just  heard  of 
what  she  had  done. 

"  Why,  Jean,  who  would  have  thought  it 
of  you?  "  said  Peggy  Allison  as  Jean  pushed 
by  her.  "  It's  lots  better  than  making  the 
team.  Come  down  to  the  Inn  with  me  after 
the  game.  I  want  you  to  meet  my  cousin, 
Miss  Murray,  from  Radcliffe.  I'm  giving 
just  a  little  supper  for  her,  and  it  will  be 
grand  to  have  such  a  heroine  as  you  with  us." 

"  Oh,  nonsense,  Peggy !  I  wish  you 
wouldn't  talk  about  it;  it's  nothing,  but  I  shall 
be  awfully  glad  to  go  down  to  the  Inn  with 
you.  I'm  starving  already.  You  might  in- 
troduce me  to  your  cousin,  though,  instead  of 
taking  it  for  granted  that  we  know  each 
other." 

"Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon,  Jean,  but  I'm  so 
excited  over  what  you've  done  that  I  have  for- 


248   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

gotten  everything  else.  Allow  me  to  intro- 
duce you  to  my  cousin,  Miss  Janet  Murray, 
Radcliffe  1914.  Miss  Murray,  allow  me  to 
introduce  you  to  Miss  Jean  Cabot,  Ashton 
1915.  There,  is  that  perfectly  proper,  Jean? 
Don't  forget  to  meet  us  after  the  game." 

"  All  right,"  said  Jean,  "  and  I'm  very  glad 
to  have  met  you,  Miss  Murray,"  and  she  finally 
reached  her  seat.  No  sooner  had  she  sat 
down  than  the  class  cheer  leader  arose  and 
said,  "  Ready,  girls ;  three  long  cheers  for  Jean 
Cabot,"  and  the  gym  resounded  with  the  three 
long  rahs  with  Cabot  at  the  end.  Jean 
blushed  a  little  and  then  began  to  look  about 
her,  apparently  unconscious  of  the  sensation 
her  appearance  had  created.  She  thought  she 
had  never  before  seen  anything  as  exciting  as 
the  scene  the  gym  presented  now.  There 
were  rows  upon  rows  of  girls  with  their 
bright-colored  flags  and  streamers,  their  faces 
aglow  with  excitement.  Most  of  them  were 
sitting  down,  but  those  not  fortunate  enough 
to  secure  seats  stood  in  the  back  rows  and 
leaned  this  way  and  that  for  a  better  view. 
It  did  not  make  much  difference  as  long  as 


THE  GAME  249 

they  were  there.  Down  among  the  faculty 
there  seemed  to  be  as  much  enthusiasm  as  in 
the  balcony,  only  in  a  more  subdued  manner. 
Jean  looked  at  Miss  Hooper  to  see  if  she 
wore  the  white  carnations  she  had  sent  to  her 
that  morning',  and  smiled  to  herself  as  she 
saw  her  holding  them  in  her  hands  and  waving 
them  every  little  while  as  she  recognized  a 
freshman  or  upper-class  girl  in  the  balcony. 
Miss  Emerson  had  many  carnations  and 
daffodils,  too,  the  flower  that  the  sophomores 
decided  best  matched  their  class  color,  and  she 
noticed  that  almost  all  the  faculty  wore  or 
carried  some  flowers  or  ribbons  to  show  their 
preferences. 

"Oh,  Mary,  isn't  it  wonderful?"  said 
Jean,  as  she.  seized  Mary  Boyce's  hand,  "  and 
to  think  I  might  perhaps  have  played  with 
them  if  I  had  only  studied  harder.  You  bet- 
'ter  believe  I'll  study  harder  next — "  but  she 
stopped,  for  the  door  of  the  dressing-room 
opened  and  the  girls  ran  out  upon  the  floor. 

"Why,  Jean,"  said  Ruth  Witham,  "what 
dandy  suits  the  girls  have.  Are  they  new?" 

"  Yes,"   said  Jean,   "  it's  a  surprise.     The 


250  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

girls  made  them  all  themselves.  Doesn't 
Anne  Cockran  look  too  sweet  for  anything? 
Isn't  she  little?  But  she  surely  can  make 
baskets  if  she  ever  gets  half  a  chance." 

Just  then  the  freshmen  broke  into  a  round 
of  cheers  for  the  team  and  every  member  on 
it,  and  in  turn  the  sophomores  gave  their 
cheers.  The  two  teams  practised  a  few  min- 
utes at  both  goals  and  promptly  at  three 
o'clock  Miss  Matthews  blew  her  whistle  and 
the  girls  lined  up  ready  for  play. 

"  Ready,  sophs  ?  "  and  Sallie  Lawrence  re- 
plied, "  All  ready." 

"Ready,  freshmen?"  and  Bess  Johnson  re- 
plied, "  All  ready." 

The  ball  was  tossed  into  the  air,  the  whistle 
blown  and  the  game  was  on.  "  Good,"  said 
Jean ;  "  they're  off ;  keep  your  eye  on  Bess 
Johnson.  Isn't  she  tall?  She  ought  to  be 
able  to  put  the  ball  right  into  the  basket  by 
just  reaching  up  her  hands,"  and  as  she  said 
this,  Bess  Johnson,  the  freshman  captain, 
with  her  superior  reach  touched  the  ball  first 
and  sent  it  spinning  toward  the  sophomore 
goal.  Anne  Cockran,  freshman  forward, 


THE  GAME  251 

rushed  in  pursuit  of  the  ball,  but  missed  it  and 
a  sophomore  guard  captured  it  and  passing  it 
quickly  to  the  center  who,  eluding  her  long- 
armed  opponent,  continued  its  course  toward 
the  freshman  goal  by  sending  it  into  the  arms 
of  a  waiting  forward.  Before  she  could  be 
covered,  she  tossed  it  up  to  the  basket  where 
for  a  moment  it  poised  upon  the  edge  and 
then  rolled  in.  A  goal  in  less  than  two  min- 
utes of  play! 

A  deafening  shout  arose  from  the  sophs,  and 
not  to  be  outdone  the  freshmen  followed  suit, 
although  Jean  declared  to  the  girls  around 
her  that  she  didn't  see  anything  to  cheer  for. 
"  To  keep  up  their  courage,"  said  Elizabeth. 
"  Don't  be  discouraged,  Jean ;  they've  only 
begun  playing." 

"That's  all  right,  Beth,  but  I'm  supersti- 
tious about  some  things,  and  I  firmly  believe 
that  the  side  which  gets  the  first  basket  always 
wins  the  game." 

"Who  told  you  that?"  asked  Ruth 
Witham. 

"  Nobody,"  replied  Jean,  "  but  I  believe  it, 
and  you  see  how  it  works  out  to-night." 


252  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Although  the  sophomores  had  got  a  basket 
so  easily  during  the  first  minutes,  it  was  not 
so  easy  getting  another.  The  freshmen  did 
not  intend  to  allow  them  to  continue  gaining 
points,  and  settled  down  to  good  steady  play- 
ing. Both  sides  were  pretty  evenly  matched, 
and  their  passing  and  guarding  were  excellent. 
The  sophomore  team  was  a  little  heavier  than 
the  freshman  one,  and  perhaps  lacked  a  little 
of  the  agility  of  the  lighter  girls.  The  ball 
went  back  and  forth  over  the  floor  with  an 
occasional  attempt  at  a  basket,  until  suddenly 
Anne  Cockran  got  the  ball  in  her  possession 
and  turning  quickly  to  measure  the  distance  to 
the  basket,  slipped  and  fell  to  the  floor  and  for 
a  moment  lay  there  perfectly  still.  "  Time !  " 
shouted  Bess  Johnson,  the  freshman  captain, 
and  Miss  Matthews  blew  her  whistle.  After 
the  college  doctor  examined  Anne  carefully  he 
found  that  she  had  twisted  her  ankle,  and  of 
course  could  not  play  the  rest  of  the  game. 
Very  reluctantly  Anne  left  the  floor  amid  a 
deafening  cheer,  and  if  one  had  been  in  the  gal- 
lery she  might  have  heard  many  a  freshman 
murmur  to  her  neighbor,  "  Oh,  isn't  it  a  shame ! 


THE  GAME  253 

And  she's  our  best  player.  We've  lost  now, 
surely." 

After  the  doctor  had  bound  up  Anne's  ankle 
and  wrapped  her  in  a  big  bath-robe,  he  car- 
ried her  out  to  the  players'  bench,  where  she 
was  to  watch  the  rest  of  the  game,  even  if  it 
broke  her  heart  not  to  be  out  on  the  floor 
playing.  Bess  Johnson  called  for  "  Phil " 
Woodworth  to  take  Anne's  place,  and  the 
game  was  on  again. 

Quickly  the  ball  was  put  into  play  and 
there  was  such  rapid  passing  and  clever  block- 
ing on  the  part  of  each  team  that  one  seemed 
to  have  little  advantage  over  the  other.  The 
playing  grew  more  furious,  and  several  times 
the  referee  had  to  interfere  in  order  to  put 
the  ball  back  into  play.  Finally,  in  one  of 
these  scrimmages  almost  under  the  sophomore 
goal,  the  ball  rolled  out  from  under  the  feet 
of  two  struggling  contestants  straight  toward 
Phil  Woodworth.  Unguarded  for  the  mo- 
ment, she  sprang  quickly  forward,  seized  the 
ball  and,  in  her  slow,  hesitant  manner  aimed 
at  the  basket.  The  ball  dropped  into  the 
basket,  but  not  a  second  too  soon,  for  at  that 


254  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

very  moment  the  timer's  whistle  blew  for  the 
end  of  the  first  half.  There  was  a  tense 
silence  for  a  moment,  followed  by  tumultuous 
cheers  by  the  freshmen  as  they  realized  that 
the  work  of  the  substitute  had  tied  the  score. 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  excited  I  can't  sit  here  another 
second !  "  said  Jean.  "  Let's  stand  up  a  little 
while;  my  foot's  asleep,  I've  kept  it  so  long 
in  one  position.  I'd  like  to  walk  a  little,  but 
there's  such  a  crowd  I  never  can  get  through 
it." 

"  Better  not  try,  Jean,"  said  Ruth,  "  there 
isn't  time,  anyway,  and  it's  fine  to  watch  the 
crowd.  Wasn't  that  splendid  for  Phil 
Wood  worth?  After  all,  it  does  count  to  be 
a  substitute.  Her  room-mate,  Grace  Little- 
field,  told  me  just  to-day  that  when  the  regular 
team  was  chosen  and  Phil  didn't  make  it  she 
was  so  disappointed  that  she  declared  she'd 
never  play  basket-ball  again,  and  it  took  a 
lot  of  coaxing  on  the  part  of  the  girls  to  get 
her  to  promise  she'd  be  sub.  Why,  I'd  give 
everything  I  possess  in  the  world  to  be  down 
there  playing,  even  as  one  of  the  subs!  Poor 
Anne !  How  do  you  suppose  she  feels  ?  " 


THE  GAME  255 

"  Pretty  sore,  Ruth,  and  of  course  awfully 
disappointed,  but  she'll  get  her  numerals  all 
right,  won't  she?  She  certainly  deserves 
them,"  said  Mary  Boyce. 

"Oh,  girls,  look!"  said  Jean.  "There's 
Miss  Emerson  and  Miss  Thurston  going  over 
to  speak  to  Anne.  My!  isn't  that  an  honor! 
Think  of  Miss  Thurston  condescending  to 
console  an  insignificant  freshman!  Actually, 
.she  is  the  coldest,  most  unsympathetic  indi- 
vidual I  ever  ran  up  against." 

"Yes,"  said  Elizabeth,  "and  she's  just  in 
the  act  of  giving  her  some  flowers  one  of  her 
fond  admirers  sent  her,  and  Miss  Emerson  is 
sharing  her  carnations,  too.  Doesn't  she 
look  dear  in  that  new  gray  dress?  I  think 
she's  the  sweetest  college  president  that  ever 
lived,  and  I  wish  I  could  do  something  to 
have  her  give  me  even  one  little  carnation,  to 
say  nothing  of  a  whole  bunch  of  them. 
Doesn't  a  game  like  this  just  make  you  want  to 
do  things  for  old  Ashton?  I'll  be  a  loyal 
supporter  even  if  I  can  do  nothing  more." 

"  Oh,  you'll  do  something,  my  fair  Eliza- 
beth," said  Jean,  "  and  before  very  long,  too. 


256  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

How  much  more  time  is  there  ?  I  wish  they'd 
begin.  I  want  somebody  to  do  something.  I 
hate  a  tie  score." 

"  Here  come  the  girls,"  said  Mary,  as  the 
girls  took  their  positions  and  the  whistle 
sounded;  "now  for  some  good  fast  playing." 

With  the  changing  of  the  goals,  the  tactics 
of  the  sophomore  team  seemed  to  change,  and 
their  superior  weight  and  greater  experience 
began  to  break  down  the  freshman  defense. 
They  had  quickly  scored  two  goals  to  the 
freshmen's  one  and  added  another  point,  when 
an  excited  freshman,  through  too  strenuous 
holding,  committed  a  foul. 

"Why  don't  they  play  more  carefully?" 
said  Jean.  "  They're  just  throwing  the  game 
away."  And  as  if  to  add  strength  to  her  re- 
mark, the  referee  at  that  moment  declared 
another  foul  and  another  point  was  added  to 
the  sophomore  total.  "  Oh,  I  don't  want  to 
see  the  rest  of  the  game,"  wailed  Jean.  "  I 
can't  see  the  sophs  beat  us  so  badly.  Why 
can't  our  girls  do  something?  " 

At  the  toss-off  which  followed,  Bess  John- 
son gave  a  signal  with  her  left  hand  and  in- 


THE  GAME  257 

stead  of  sending  the  ball  towards  the  sopho- 
more goal  she  tossed  it  back  into  the  hands 
of  one  of  the  guards,  who,  in  obedience  to  the 
signal,  had  rushed  forward.  Catching  the 
ball  before  it  had  touched  the  floor,  she  threw 
it  accurately  to  a  waiting  forward  who,  be- 
fore the  bewildered  sophomores  had  recov- 
ered from  this  unusual  strategy,  threw  the 
ball  into  the  basket.  The  score  was  now 
8-4  in  favor  of  the  sophs.  Encouraged  by  the 
success  of  this  play,  the  freshmen  redoubled 
their  efforts,  but  to  little  purpose,  as  they 
were  already  beginning  to  show  the  effects  of 
their  strenuous  play,  so  that  except  for  one 
point  added  to  their  score  by  a  sophomore  foul 
they  could  do  little  more  than  successfully  de- 
fend their  goal. 

The  game  was  rapidly  drawing  to  a  close 
when  the  ball  going  out  of  bounds  was 
awarded  to  Bess  Johnson  to  throw  in. 
Closely  guarded  by  the  waving  arms  of  her 
opponent,  she  glanced  quickly  over  the  floor 
and  at  that  moment  saw  the  agile  form  of 
Louise  Harrison  as,  eluding  her  opponent, 
she  rushed  down  with  arms  outstretched  to 


258  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

catch  the  ball.  With  quick  movement  she 
threw  it  over  the  shoulder  of  her  antagonist 
toward  the  rapidly  moving  figure,  who, 
though  going  at  full  speed,  caught  it  fairly. 
But  she  had  not  a  moment  to  consider  passing 
it  to  another  nearer  the  goal,  as  two  sophs 
rushed  towards  her.  The  basket  seemed  very 
far  away  indeed,  but  with  quick  concentra- 
tion and  taut  muscles  she  threw  with  all  her 
might.  It  seemed  an  interminable  moment  as 
the  ball  soared  through  the  air,  but  at  last 
with  a  little  spiral  drop  it  settled  into  the  wait- 
ing net. 

Time  was  up,  and  the  sophomores  had  won, 
but  by  the  scantest  of  margins,  the  final  score 
being  8-7  in  their  favor.  It  took  a  moment 
or  two  for  the  freshmen  to  recover  from  their 
defeat,  and  then  they  cheered  as  lustily  for 
the  sophs  as  though  it  had  been  their  own 
victory.  Then  there  was  a  wild  rush  for  the 
gymnasium  floor  and  the  balcony  was  emptied 
of  all  its  occupants.  The  sophs  formed  a 
procession,  and  some  of  the  strongest  girls  car- 
ried their  captain,  Sallie  Lawrence,  off  the 


"WITH  A    QUICK   MOVEMENT    SHE   THREW   IT   OVER   THE   SHOULDER   OF 
HER   ANTAGONIST. — Page  258. 


THE  GAME  259 

floor  amid  shouts  and  cheers,  and  the  fresh- 
men, not  to  be  outdone,  seized  Bess  Johnson 
and  followed  suit. 

When  the  teams  came  out  of  the  dressing- 
rooms  again  the  sophs  sent  up  a  mighty 
shout.  "  The  freshman  flags,  the  freshman 
flags,  we  want  the  freshman  flags !  "  As  they 
shouted,  each  girl  seized  the  hand  of  the  one 
nearest  her  and  they  formed  a  circle  round 
the  gymnasium.  When  they  dissolved  the 
circle  some  of  the  cheer-leaders  erected  from 
convenient  apparatus  what  most  closely  re- 
sembled a  funeral  pile  in  the  center  of  the 
floor,  and  then  called  for  the  freshmen  to 
form  a  line.  Sallie  Lawrence  hastened  to  the 
piano  and  struck  up  the  Funeral  March  and 
the  freshmen  slowly  approached  the  pile  and 
each  girl  dropped  her  flag  and  passed  on  out 
of  the  building. 

"  Well,  I  don't  care  a  bit,"  said  Jean  to 
an  animated  group  of  freshmen  outside  the 
gymnasium.  "If  they  did  win  it  was  only 
by  one  point,  and  our  girls  really  did  some 
wonderful  playing.  Why,  that  shot  of  Bess 


26o  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Johnson's  was  worth  the  whole  game.  Isn't 
she  a  star?"  Then  looking  around  her  she 
whispered,  "Now  to  get  ready  for  our  ban- 
quet; if  we  can  only  succeed  in  that  we  won't 
mind  losing  the  game." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE   BANQUET 

THE  freshman  banquet  was  always 
held  as  soon  after  the  game  as  pos- 
sible in  the  hotel  of  some  neighbor- 
ing town,  easy  of  access  but  out  of  the  reach 
of  the  sophs.  It  took  a  great  deal  of  clever 
planning  to  escape  their  vigilant  watch,  and 
many  a  time  freshman  classes  never  suc- 
ceeded in  gathering  at  this  festive  occasion, 
but  1915  was  a  very  energetic  class  and  de- 
termined at  any  cost  to  outwit  their  rivals. 
They  agreed  among  themselves  that  the  ban- 
quet should  be  held  the  following  Monday 
evening  at  Langley  Inn,  Southtown,  about 
twelve  miles  from  Ashton,  and  the  girls  were 
to  assemble  there  before  six  o'clock.  No  two 
girls  were  to  be  seen  leaving  the  Hill  at  the 
same  time,  and  they  could  take  the  train,  the 
electric  cars  or  walk  to  nearby  towns  and  leave 
from  there.  Miss  Hooper  and  Miss  Moulton 
261 


262   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

of  the  faculty  were  to  chaperon  them  and 
bring  them  back  to  college  when  the  celebra- 
tion was  over. 

A  little  after  six  o'clock  on  the  evening 
agreed  upon,  Lois  Underwood,  chairman  of 
the  banquet  committee,  walked  through  the  re- 
ception-rooms of  the  Langley  Inn  to  assemble 
the  girls  into  the  dining-room.  "  Are  we  all 
here,  girls?  I'll  call  the  roll  first  and  let  every 
girl  reply,  '  Here,'  as  her  name  is  called."  It 
did  not  take  long  to  discover  that  Bess  John- 
son, basket-ball  captain  and  star  of  the  recent 
game,  Edith  McCausland,  class  president,  and 
Jean  Cabot,  heroine  of  the  flag-raising,  were 
the  only  ones  missing.  "  Who  knows  any- 
thing about  these  girls  ? "  asked  Lois,  anx- 
iously. Instead  of  an  individual  answer,  there 
was  a  universal  shout  of  "  The  sophs !  They've 
captured  them." 

"  Well,"  said  Lois,  "  perhaps  we  had  better 
wait  a  few  moments  before  we  begin  to  eat, 
for  they  may  only  have  been  delayed.  If  any 
thing  has  happened  to  them  we  shall  be  terri- 
bly disappointed,  but  as  so  many  of  us  are  here 


THE  BANQUET  263 

we  will  carry  out  our  original  plans,  and  hope 
for  the  best  about  the  missing  ones." 

Just  then  one  of  the  maids  entered  the  recep- 
tion-room. "  Is  Miss  Lois  Underwood  here  ? 
She  is  wanted  at  the  telephone  in  the  office." 

"  Oh,  probably  it's  from  one  of  the  girls. 
I'll  be  right  back  in  a  minute  and  tell  you  what 
has  happened." 

But  when  she  returned,  her  face  did  not 
look  as  though  she  were  pleased  with  the  mes- 
sage she  had  received.  "  It  was  Jean  Cabot 
telephoning,  but  all  she  said  was,  '  I  sha'n't  be 
at  the  banquet  to-night.'  Probably  one  of 
those  horrid  sophs  has  her  imprisoned,  and 
made  her  telephone  that  without  any  explana- 
tion, so  it  would  be  all  the  harder  to  bear." 

"  Are  you  sure  it  was  Jean  talking?  "  asked 
Elizabeth  Fairfax.  "  Perhaps  a  soph  did  it  to 
deceive  us." 

"  No ;  I  recognized  Jean's  voice  all  right,  in 
spite  of  the  tone  of  anger.  I  call  it  mighty 
hard  luck,  for  Jean  was  to  reply  to  the  toast, 
'  How  I  Raised  the  1915  Flag.'  Of  course  it's 
an  old  story  with  most  of  you  now,  but  none 


264   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

of  us  will  ever  get  tired  of  hearing  Jean  tell  it 
in  that  inimitable  style  of  hers." 

Again  a  maid  summoned  Lois  to  the  tele- 
phone, and  she  returned  again  with  a  down- 
cast face.  "  It's  Edith  McCausland  this  time 
and  all  she  said  was,  *  Don't  expect  me  at  the 
banquet  to-night,'  and  before  I  could  ask  her 
the  reason  she  had  hung  up  the  receiver." 

"  And  are  you  sure  it  was  Edith  talking  this 
time?  "  asked  another  doubting  freshman. 

"  Yes,  quite  sure,  for  no  one  could  mistake 
her  deep-toned  voice.  Another  of  our  speech- 
makers  gone.  Well,  all  I've  got  to  say  is  that 
some  of  the  rest  of  you  will  have  to  speak  im- 
promptu, for  we  must  have  toasts  even  if  the 
sophs  have  stolen  our  famous  after-dinner 
speakers." 

As  the  maid  appeared  smiling  a  third  time 
at  the  door  Lois  said,  "  You  needn't  tell  me 
I'm  wanted  at  the  telephone  again,  for  I  know 
it's  Bess  Johnson  this  time  to  give  me  the  same 
old  message.  I'm  not  going  to  answer,  for 
it's  only  giving  more  satisfaction  to  the  sophs, 
and  they  can  keep  ringing  all  night  if  they 
want  to,  but  I'll  not  answer  them.  Tell  them 


THE  BANQUET  265 

Miss  Underwood  is  too  busy  to  answer  the 
telephone.  Come,  girls,  let  us  go  into  the  din- 
ing-room. Take  any  seat  you  wish ;  we  won't 
try  to  find  our  place  cards,  for  we  haven't  any. 
Let's  sing  our  class  song  as  we  march  in. 
Nell  Butler,  will  you  please  go  to  the  piano  and 
play  for  us  ?  " 

Obliging  Nell,  who  always  was  called  upon 
to  furnish  music  at  all  the  freshman  doings, 
hurried  to  the  piano  and  struck  the  opening 
chords  of  the  class  song,  and  then  the  girls 
broke  into  song  and  marched  double-file  into 
the  long  dining-room.  There  were  two  large 
tables  and  one  smaller  one  intended  for  the 
speakers  and  guests  of  honor.  Lois  showed 
Miss  Hooper  and  Miss  Moulton  to  their  seats 
and  then  called  out,  "  Anne  Cockran,  Phil 
Woodworth,  Mary  Williamson,  Stell  Leavitt, 
Clara  Hawkins,  Vera  Montgomery,  Gertrude 
Hollis,  this  way,  please,"  and  when  they  sat 
down  there  were  still  the  three  empty  seats 
which  were  to  have  been  occupied  by  the  miss- 
ing girls.  "  We  want  these  seats  filled,  too," 
said  Lois.  "  Betty  Horton,  you  come  over 
here,  for  you'll  have  to  sing  for  us ;  and,  Flor- 


266  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

ence  Cummings,  here's  a  seat  for  you ;  prepare 
to  tell  us  how  you  made  the  glorious  1915  flags 
we've  lost  forever;  and,  Eleanor  Whitcomb, 
join  the  other  celebrities;  because  of  your 
sophomore  room-mate  you  can  talk  on, 
'  What  I  Know  about  the  Sophomores,  after 
Rooming  with  One  for  Seven  Months.' 
There,  that  looks  better  to  have  the  table  full. 
Ladies,  be  seated,"  and  at  the  signal  every  girl 
sat  down  and  seizing  her  knife  rapped  three 
times  on  the  table  with  it,  as  they  sang  out, 
"  Rah,  rah,  rah ;  rah,  rah,  rah ;  rah,  rah,  rah, 
the  freshmen." 

Then  they  began  to  eat,  and  quantities  of 
good  things  rapidly  disappeared.  One  would 
almost  have  wondered  how  they  could  eat  so 
much,  for  it  sounded  as  though  each  girl  was 
keeping  up  a  continual  conversation  with  her 
neighbor,  and  every  one  admits  it  is  somewhat 
difficult  to  eat  and  talk  at  the  same  time,  but 
a  college  girl  can  do  almost  everything  and 
perhaps  did  not  find  this  difficult.  Anyway, 
they  continued  to  eat  until  about  eight  o'clock 
and  then  Lois  called  on  Miss  Hooper  to  re- 
spond to  the  toast,  "  The  Freshman  as  Seen 


THE  BANQUET  267 

by  the  Faculty."  Miss  Hooper,  in  spite  of 
her  predilection  for  mathematics,  had  a  keen 
sense  of  humor  and  kept  the  girls  in  gales  of 
laughter  as  she  summoned  up  the  funny  mis- 
takes of  freshmen  she  had  known,  without 
making  her  remarks  at  all  personal.  The  girls 
clapped  and  clapped  when  she  finished,  and 
many  a  one  was  glad  to  see  this  side  of  their 
mathematics  instructor  which  was  entirely 
lacking  in  class-room. 

"  Now,"  said  Lois,  "  we'll  hear  from  Anne 
Cockran  on  '  How  I  Enjoy  Being  an  Invalid.' ' 

Anne  couldn't  stand  up,  and  so  leaned 
against  her  chair  and  very  briefly  but  brightly 
gave  her  views  of  the  game  after  she  had  been 
obliged  to  sit  on  the  benches  and  watch  the 
others.  One  girl  after  another  was  called 
upon  and  all  sounded  the  praises  of  1915  and 
told  what  it  had  to  be  thankful  for,  even  if 
the  game  had  been  lost.  They  sang  between 
the  speeches,  and  with  so  much  cheering  and 
singing  many  began  to  get  hoarse.  Just  after 
Eleanor  Whitcomb  had  sent  the  girls  into 
gales  of  laughter  over  her  humorous  descrip- 
tion of  the  sophs  as  judged  by  her  room-mate, 


268  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

the  door  from  the  hallway  opened  to  admit  the 
proprietor,  who  ushered  in  Mile.  Franchant 
and  the  three  missing  freshmen.  Instantly 
every  girl  arose  and  cheered  and  cheered  in 
spite  of  tired  throats.  Room  was  made  at  the 
center  table  and  the  four  late  arrivals  were 
given  the  places  of  honor. 

"  Everything's  eaten,"  said  Lois  Under- 
wood, "  except  what  you  see  on  the  tables,  but 
help  yourselves  freely  to  that.  Only  don't 
eat  too  long,  for  we're  crazy  to  hear  what  hap- 
pened to  you  and  how  you  succeeded  in  finally 
getting  here.  Elizabeth  Johnson,  you're  next 
on  the  programme;  please  give  us  an  account 
of  yourself." 

Bess  arose  and  slipped  off  her  long  black 
cloak,  revealing  a  somewhat  soiled  and  torn 
shirt-waist.  "  You  see,  girls,  I'm  not  dressed 
just  exactly  right  for  a  banquet,  but  take  me 
as  you  find  me  and  you'll  understand  every- 
thing when  I've  finished. 

"  We're  here  at  last,  although  we  never  ex- 
pected to  be  and  it's  been  rather  difficult  get- 
ting here.  Some  way  or  other  the  sophs  found 
out  that  we  were  to  have  the  banquet  to-night 


THE  BANQUET  269 

and  they  suspected  we  three  girls  would  speak. 
They  evidently  decided  it  was  too  late  to  break 
up  the  banquet  entirely,  but  the  next  best  thing 
seemed  to  be  to  kidnap  us  and  keep  us  locked 
up  until  it  was  too  late  to  think  of  leaving  the 
Hill.  I  left  Wellington  about  three  o'clock 
and  walked  down  back  of  the  dormitory,  in- 
tending to  take  the  electrics  over  at  Canton 
Corners  for  Boston  and  then  take  the  train  at 
the  South  Station. 

"  Before  I  had  gone  very  far  Elsie  Ather- 
ton  overtook  me  and  asked  me  where  I  was 
going.  Not  daring  to  say  *  in  town,'  I  told 
her  I  was  going  for  a  little  walk,  for  I  hoped 
she  would  leave  me  at  the  Corners,  and  then 
I  could  walk  farther  down  the  street  to  take 
the  car.  But  she  replied  that  she  was  out 
walking,  too,  and  suggested  that  I  go  down 
to  her  aunt's  on  Oliver  Street  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, as  she  had  an  errand  to  do  there.  I 
knew  I  had  several  hours  ahead  of  me  and 
that  it  would  be  less  suspicious  if  I  went  with 
her  than  if  I  refused  and  boarded  a  car.  I 
consented,  and  we  soon  reached  her  aunt's 
house.  A  maid  let  us  in  and  said  that  Mrs. 


270   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Wolcott  was  upstairs  and  wished  us  to  go  to 
her  room.  I  followed  Elsie  up  the  stairs  and 
we  entered  what  I  supposed  was  Mrs.  Wol- 
cott's  room.  Instead  of  meeting  Mrs.  Wol- 
cott, a  masked  figure  approached  me  and  be- 
fore I  could  realize  what  was  happening  I  was 
seized  by  several  other  masked  figures  and 
blindfolded.  Then  I  was  commanded  to  sit 
down  and  my  hands  and  feet  were  bound  se- 
curely to  the  chair.  Some  one  whispered  in 
my  ear,  '  Now  get  to  Langley  Inn  if  you  can,' 
and  they  left  the  room  and  locked  the  door  be- 
hind them. 

"  How  long  I  sat  there  I  do  not  know,  but 
I  twisted  and  turned  and  tried  every  way  to 
free  myself,  but  it  was  no  use.  In  course  of 
time  the  door  was  unlocked  and  some  one  else 
was  brought  in  and  bound  to  a  chair  as  I  had 
been,  and  I  heard  again  the  whisper,  '  Now 
get  to  Langley  Inn  in  time  for  your  banquet 
if  you  can.'  And  then  the  door  was  locked. 
It  did  not  take  me  long  to  discover  that  my 
companion  in  misery  was  Jean  Cabot,  and  we 
were  comparing  our  experiences  and  trying 
to  plan  our  escape  when  the  door  opened  again 


THE  BANQUET  271 

and  a  third  victim  was  brought  in,  securely 
fastened  as  we  had  been,  and  given  the  same 
suggestion  that  had  been  given  to  us. 

"  For  the  third  time  the  door  was  closed  and 
locked  and  we  were  left  to  darkness  and  our- 
selves. It  took  only  a  moment  to  discover 
that  the  new  arrival  was  Edith  McCausland, 
but  before  she  could  tell  us  of  her  experiences 
we  heard  the  key  in  the  lock  and  we  waited 
for  the  fourth  victim.  The  electric  light  was 
turned  on  and  we  heard  one  of  the  girls,  who 
we  afterward  decided  was  Sallie  Lawrence, 
take  down  the  telephone  receiver  and  call  up 
'  The  Langley  Inn.'  When  the  line  was  con- 
nected we  were  each  forced  to  say  that  we 
would  not  be  at  the  banquet.  No  one  an- 
swered my  call,  so  I  concluded  Lois  had  begun 
to  suspect  foul  play  and  would  have  nothing 
more  to  do  with  it.  After  the  telephoning 
was  over  we  were  warned  not  to  try  to  escape, 
for  it  would  be  impossible,  and  if  we  were 
quiet  and  submissive  we  would  be  released  be- 
fore ten  o'clock.  We  said  nothing  and  were 
soon  left  to  ourselves  again. 

"  We  decided  to  make  every  effort  to  free 


272   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

ourselves,  and  after  much  straining  and  striv- 
ing, Edith  McCausland  got  one  hand  free.  She 
had  her  old  clothes  on  and  in  her  shirt-waist 
pocket  was  a  penknife  which  she  had  used  that 
afternoon  in  the  lab.  With  this  she  finally 
managed  to  cut  the  ropes  from  her  other 
hand  and  then  from  her  feet  and  she  was  free. 
Although  it  was  pitch  dark  she  succeeded  in 
freeing  Jean  and  me,  and  we  breathed  freely 
again  and  felt  that  half  the  battle  was  won. 
We  did  not  dare  to  turn  on  the  lights  for  fear 
the  girls  would  see  us,  for  we  suspected  they 
might  be  somewhere  within  sight  of  the  room 
or  perhaps  in  the  very  house  itself.  We 
groped  around  until  we  found  the  windows  and 
as  quietly  as  possible  opened  them.  Jean  dis- 
covered that  the  window  she  had  opened  was 
not  far  above  the  ground,  and  better  still,  had 
a  stout  trellis  which  reached  to  the  very  sill. 
She  decided  to  try  to  crawl  down  it,  for  even 
if  it  would  not  hold  her  weight  the  distance 
to  fall  would  not  be  very  great  and  she  was 
willing  to  risk  it.  Once  out  of  the  house  the 
way  would  be  clear. 

"  Very  slowly  and  cautiously  she  stepped 


THE  BANQUET  273 

down  upon  the  trellis,  which  proved  perfectly 
capable  of  holding  her  weight,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment she  was  on  the  ground.  We  followed 
suit,  and  in  my  haste  to  be  out  I  forgot  to  close 
the  window  and  I'm  wondering  now  if  the 
cold  air  from  the  window  has  chilled  the  whole 
house.  Anyway,  I  didn't  go  back  to  close  it. 
We  crept  back  of  the  house  without  saying  a 
word  and  walked  fully  five  minutes  before  we 
stopped  to  get  our  bearings  and  hold  a  con- 
sultation. Edith  knew  where  we  were  and  told 
us  that  a  short  cut  would  take  us  up  back  of 
Faculty  Row.  If  we  could  only  get  one  of 
the  faculty  to  chaperon  us  we  could  telephone 
for  an  automobile  and  get  out  to  the  banquet 
before  it  was  too  late.  We  knew  Miss  Hooper 
and  Miss  Moulton  were  out  here,  so  we  de- 
termined to  ask  Mile.  Franchant  to  go  with 
us,  knowing  her  fondness  for  the  freshmen. 
We  stumbled  through  backyards  and  over 
fences  and  finally  reached  Mile.  Franchant's 
house.  We  told  her  our  story  and  persuaded 
her  to  chaperon  us  out  here.  We  telephoned 
for  an  automobile  and  here  we  are  at  last,  a 
little  the  worse  for  wear,  perhaps,  but  loyal 


274  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

members  of  1915,"  and  she  sat  down  amid 
vigorous  clapping  and  shouts  of  "  Bravo !  " 

Lois  then  called  upon  Edith  McCausland  to 
tell  the  story  of  her  capture. 

"  My  story  is  very  similar  to  Elizabeth's," 
she  said,  "  except  the  first  part.  I  had  an 
afternoon  lecture  and  when  I  came  out  of  Col- 
lege Hall  and  was  on  my  way  to  West,  Helen 
Humphrey  overtook  me  and  asked  me  if  I 
would  like  a  short  automobile  ride.  You  know 
she  rooms  next  to  me  and  we've  always  been 
very  good  friends.  Her  aunt  had  offered  her 
machine  to  her  that  afternoon  and  it  would  be 
at  West  in  about  fifteen  minutes.  I  pleaded 
an  engagement,  but  she  urged  so  hard  I 
thought  I  might  go  for  an  hour  or  so  and  then 
take  a  late  train  in  town.  After  we  had  rid- 
den until  it  was  almost  dark,  Helen  suggested 
that  we  stop  for  a  moment  at  her  aunt's  house. 
I  was  on  pins  and  needles,  for  I  knew  I  must 
hurry  or  I'd  never  make  the  train.  Still,  it 
seemed  the  only  polite  thing  to  stop  a  moment 
and  thank  her  aunt  for  the  ride. 

"  When  we  rang  the  bell  we  were  admitted 
by  a  maid,  who  sent  us  upstairs.  The  rest  of 


THE  BANQUET  275 

the  story  you  know,  for  Bess  has  told  you. 
It's  been  the  most  exciting  experience  I've  ever 
had,  but  now  that  we're  here  and  have  fooled 
those  horrid  sophs,  I  don't  mind  the  rest.  But 
there's  one  consolation,  girls,  we'll  be  sophs 
ourselves  next  year  and  we  ought  to  take  all 
this  in  the  right  spirit,  as  no  real  harm  has 
been  done  by  our  enemies,"  and  Edith  sat  down 
as  though  she  were  very,  very  tired.  The 
girls  were  impartial  in  their  applause  and  gave 
Edith  her  full  share  and  then  Jean  was  called 
upon  for  her  story. 

"  I  had  planned,"  she  began,  "  to  leave  Mer- 
ton  very  early  after  dinner  and  spend  the 
afternoon  in  town  with  my  cousin  at  the  hos- 
pital where  she  is  training.  After  I  had 
dressed  and  was  just  about  to  start,  Gertrude 
Vinton  came  in  to  talk  a  little  while,  and  when 
she  discovered  where  I  was  going  she  decided 
to  go  in  town  with  me,  for,  strange  to  relate, 
she  has  a  friend  training  at  the  Massachusetts 
General,  too,  who  knows  Cousin  Nan  very  well. 
She  suggested  that  we  visit  the  girls  and  then 
have  lunch  up  town  and  go  back  to  Ashton 
together.  I  tried  to  think  of  various  excuses, 


276   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

but  couldn't  persuade  her  to  change  her  mind. 
So  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  for  us  to  go 
in  town  together,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
I  could  lose  her  after  we  reached  the  hos- 
pital. 

"  But  she  stuck  to  me  closer  than  a  brother 
and  insisted  that  we  see  both  girls  at  the  same 
time  if  possible.  When  we  arrived  at  the  hos- 
pital we  found  her  friend  was  on  duty,  so  we 
both  had  one  hour  with  Nan.  We  would  have 
stayed  longer,  but  Nan  was  obliged  to  report 
at  four  o'clock  for  ward  work.  Just  as  we 
were  discussing  where  to  go  for  lunch,  Ger- 
trude began  to  feel  sick  and  declared  she 
should  faint  if  she  couldn't  lie  down  immedi- 
ately. Nan  took  us  into  one  of  the  little  wait- 
ing-rooms and  brought  water  and  restoratives 
to  revive  her,  and  although  she  did  not  faint 
she  declared  she  was  in  great  pain  and  must  get 
back  to  college  as  quickly  as  possible.  She 
said  she  was  subject  to  terrible  attacks  of  indi- 
gestion, so  she  wanted  to  be  in  her  own  room 
in  East  rather  than  in  a  hospital  in  town. 
Nothing  would  do  but  I  must  go  out  to  col- 
lege with  her.  On  the  train  she  said  almost 


THE  BANQUET  277 

nothing,  but  curled  up  in  the  seat  as  though 
she  were  suffering  intensely.  I  pitied  her  and 
tried  to  make  her  as  comfortable  as  possible, 
although  inwardly  I  was  raging  because  I  was 
not  on  my  way  to  our  banquet 

"  When  we  reached  the  station,  Gertrude  said 
she  felt  better  and  thought  she  could  walk  to 
East  if  we  went  slowly,  and  I  helped  her. 
Strange  to  relate,  we  met  no  one  on  the  Row 
or  in  the  dormitory.  Gertrude  rooms  alone 
on  the  first  floor,  and  so  we  were  soon  in  her 
room.  She  lay  down  on  her  couch  a  few  mo- 
ments and  then  asked  me  if  I  would  go  down 
to  the  other  end  of  the  corridor  and  ask  Ethel 
Pullman  to  come  in  and  help  her.  Of  course 
Ethel  Pullman  is  a  soph,  but  not  a  particle  of 
suspicion  entered  my  innocent  little  head  and 
I  walked  into  her  room  as  big  as  life  to  tell  her 
how  sick  Gertrude  was  and  how  much  she 
wanted  her  to  go  up  to  her  room  to  help  her. 
As  I  entered  her  room  I  found  myself  in  the 
midst  of  five  sophs  and  before  I  could  tell  my 
story  they  had  seized  me  and  blindfolded  me 
and  covered  my  mouth  so  I  could  make  no 
outcry.  I  tried  my  best  to  break  away,  but 


278   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

they  were  too  many  for  me,  and  I  soon  gave 
it  up  as  useless.  Some  one  put  a  long  cloak 
over  me  and  I  was  led  for  what  seemed  miles 
and  miles.  Finally  we  stopped,  and  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  house  which  the  other  girls  have 
described  to  you.  There's  no  need  of  my  say- 
ing more,  except  that  I  think  Mile.  Franchant 
was  a  jewel  to  come  out  here  with  us,  and  I 
move  that  we  all  rise  and  show  her  how  much 
we  appreciate  what  she  has  done." 

Every  girl  jumped  to  her  feet  and  the  walls 
echoed  and  reechoed  with  the  cheers  for  the 
popular  French  instructor.  After  the  speeches 
of  the  three  heroines  of  the  evening  other 
speeches  seemed  out  of  the  question  and  Lois 
suggested  that  the  rest  of  the  time  be  devoted 
to  dancing  and  singing.  At  ten  o'clock  they 
left  the  hotel  and  took  the  train  for  Boston, 
and,  after  crossing  the  city  they  boarded  the 
last  train  for  Ashton. 

It  was  a  very  quiet  lot  of  freshmen  that 
crossed  the  campus  and  entered  the  various 
dormitories,  for  they  were  very  tired,  but  they 
felt  a  certain  exaltation.  Although  they  had 
been  defeated  in  the  basket-ball  game,  they  felt 


THE  BANQUET  279 

that  they  had  shown  their  superiority  over  the 
sophs  in  the  other  two  events.  When  Jean 
and  Elizabeth  finally  reached  their  room,  Eliza- 
beth said,  "  You  must  be  dead  tired,  Jean,  with 
all  you've  been  through.  I  can  hardly  move, 
myself,  and  I've  done  nothing  all  these  exciting 
days  but  just  look  on.  What  a  heroine  you 
are,  Jean.  You're  getting  to  be  one  of  the 
most  popular  girls  in  1915." 

"  Not  at  all,  Elizabeth,  and  if  I  were,  per- 
haps it's  not  the  only  kind  of  popularity  I 
want.  '  Some  men  are  born  great,  others 
achieve  greatness,  and  some  have  greatness 
thrust  upon  'em.'  You  know  the  quotation; 
well,  perhaps  it's  true  in  my  case." 

"Which  one,  Jean?" 

"  Oh,  there  ought  not  to  be  a  question  in 
your  mind.  Good  night.  Please  don't  waken 
me  in  the  morning.  I'm  going  to  take  one  of 
my  seven  remaining  cuts,"  and  she  went  to 
sleep  with  her  head  full  of  banquets  and  kid- 
napings  and  flag-raisings  and  basket-ball 
games. 


CHAPTER  XV 
MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT 

ALL  college  days  are  not  as  exciting  and 
as  full  of  the  unusual  as  those  center- 
ing around  the  freshman-sophomore 
basket-ball  game.  It  took  but  a  little  while  to 
settle  down  to  the  regular  routine  of  recita- 
tions and  hard  study.  This  was  the  time  to 
do  the  best  work  of  the  year,  for  June  was 
not  far  off,  and  that  meant  hot  nights  and 
hotter  days  when  studying,  except  for  an  occa- 
sional examination,  seemed  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. This  does  not  mean  that  the  girls  did 
nothing  else  but  study  during  the  spring  term, 
but  it  was  what  they  concentrated  most  of 
their  energy  upon. 

Jean  was  studying  hard,  particularly  upon 

her  French,   for  she  had  not   forgotten  her 

promise  to  Richard  Fairfax  and  to  herself. 

Some  days  it  was  harder  than  others,  and  she 

280 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  281 

wondered  if,  after  all,  it  was  worth  while  if 
her  college  education  was  to  end  in  June.  On 
one  of  these  days  when  the  morrow's  assign- 
ments seemed  harder  than  usual  and  she  was 
just  a  little  discouraged  about  ever  getting 
them,  she  decided  to  go  down  to  the  post  office 
for  the  afternoon  mail  which  came  in  at  four 
o'clock,  not  that  she  expected  a  letter  particu- 
larly, but  she  needed  the  exercise  and  change 
of  air.  There  were  plenty  of  girls  she  might 
have  asked  to  accompany  her,  but  to-day  she 
wanted  to  be  alone.  She  apparently  was  not 
in  much  of  a  hurry,  for  she  went  out  of  her 
way  and  circled  around  the  laboratories  before 
starting  in  the  direction  of  the  post  office. 

Leisurely  she  entered  the  office  and  gazed 
into  her  box  and  there  indeed  was  a  letter. 
But  when  she  found  it  was  from  her  father 
that  changed  matters  entirely.  She  could  not 
wait  until  she  reached  home  to  read  it,  but  she 
sat  right  down  in  the  office  on  the  edge  of  the 
window  sill  and  tore  open  the  envelope  and 
began  reading  the  letter.  It  was  very  brief, 
but  told  her  that  unexpected  business  called 
him  to  the  East  and  he  was  starting  as  soon 


282   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

as  possible  and  would  wire  her  when  he 
reached  Boston.  Her  joy  knew  no  bounds; 
her  father  actually  coming  to  see  her  and  per- 
haps already  on  his  way.  Oh,  how  glad  she 
would  be  to  see  him,  and  then  she  said  aloud, 
"  He  will  take  me  back  home  with  him ;  I  can't 
stay  here  and  see  him  go  back  alone.  Two 
months  more  here  aren't  worth  it.  I  shall  miss 
the  girls  and  the  good  times  and  Tom's  gradua- 
tion, but  they're  nothing  in  comparison  with 
father  and  California  and  the  boys.  Yes;  I 
shall  persuade  him  to  take  me  back.  I  know 
I  can  do  it.  He  can't  refuse  me  when  he  sees 
how  badly  I  want  to  go,"  and  she  hurried  back 
to  Merton  to  tell  Elizabeth  and  the  others  the 
good  news. 

As  she  ran  up  the  corridor  to  her  room,  she 
saw  Miss  Hooper  just  turning  away  from  the 
door.  "  Oh,"  gasped  Jean,  "  isn't  Elizabeth 
at  home?  I  left  her  in  the  room  when  I  went 
down  for  the  mail.  I'm  sorry  neither  of  us 
were  here  to  receive  you.  Won't  you  come 
in  now  with  me  ?  " 

"Yes,  Miss  Cabot,  I  shall  be  delighted  to, 
for  although  I  came  to  see  you  both  I  wanted 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  283 

particularly  to  talk  with  you.  Perhaps  Miss 
Fairfax  will  return  before  long." 

Jean  opened  the  door  and  led  her  to  the 
most  comfortable  chair  by  the  window.  The 
conversation  was  general  for  a  while  and  then 
Jean  could  not  keep  her  secret  any  longer. 
"  Oh,  Miss  Hooper,  I've  just  received  a  letter 
from  my  father  and  he's  coming  East  on  busi- 
ness and  will  be  in  Boston  in  a  few  days  to 
see  me.  I'm  so  excited  I  can  hardly  wait  to 
see  him.  Just  think!  It's  a  long  time  from 
September  to  April." 

"  How  splendid !  "  said  Miss  Hooper.  "  Of 
course  you  are  very  anxious  to  see  him,  and 
no  doubt  he  is  as  anxious  to  see  you.  How 
very  &  propos,  too ;  I  came  to  talk  to  you  about 
something  particular  which  you  may  care  to 
talk  over  with  your  father,  so  I'll  tell  you  now 
without  waiting  any  longer.  I  came  to  ask 
you  if  you  would  like  to  spend  the  summer 
abroad  with  me  and  perhaps  one  or  two  of  the 
girls.  I  generally  plan  to  go  over  every  two 
or  three  years  and  have  decided  to  go  this 
year.  I  knew  you  liked  to  travel  and  could 
afford  to  do  so,  and  hoped  you  would  like  to 


284  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

go  with  me.  We  need  not  join  any  excur- 
sion party,  but  take  things  leisurely  and  go 
where  our  inclination  leads  us.  I  have  always 
wanted  to  spend  a  summer  in  the  British  Isles, 
but  have  never  had  the  opportunity  before.  If 
we  started  the  last  of  June,  right  after  com- 
mencement, we  should  have  almost  three 
months,  for  college  does  not  open  until  late 
next  fall.  You  wouldn't  mind  giving  up  going 
home  for  one  summer  vacation  when  there  are 
three  more  to  come,  and  especially  if  your 
father  is  coming  to  see  you  now.  What  do 
you  think  of  the  idea?  " 

For  a  moment  Jean  could  not  speak  and 
then  she  burst  out,  "  Why,  Miss  Hooper,  I 
wouldn't  give  up  going  home  to  California  for 
anything  in  the  world!  Why,  do  you  know, 
ever  since  I  got  father's  letter  I  have  been 
thinking  of  only  one  thing,  and  that  was  to 
beg  him  to  take  me  home  with  him  when  he 
goes.  You  know,  I've  never  intended  to  stay 
here  more  than  one  year,  and  so  I  can't  see 
what  difference  it  makes  whether  I  go  back 
home  now  or  in  June.  And  how  can  you 
want  me  to  go  abroad  with  you  ?  I'm  not  the 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  285 

kind  of  girl  you'd  like  to  travel  with;  I've 
never  been  half  decent  to  you  since  I  came. 
I've  tried  to,  sometimes,  but  I  never  can  forget 
how  foolishly  I  acted  at  the  very  beginning 
of  the  year  when  I  left  your  mathematics  class. 
If  there's  ever  been  one  thing  which  has  made 
me  want  to  return  to  college  another  year,  it 
was  to  apologize  to  you  and  take  mathematics  I 
over  again  with  some  credit  to  myself  and  to 
you.  I  have  been  ashamed  of  myself  when- 
ever I  have  allowed  myself  to  think  of  it,  and 
I  now  humbly  offer  you  my  apology." 

"  And  I  accept  it,  Jean.  May  I  call  you 
Jean?  I  felt  very  bad  when  I  discovered  you 
had  left  the  class  and  several  times  I  was 
tempted  to  ask  you  the  reason,  but  I  thought 
sometime  it  would  come  out  all  right  and  you 
would  tell  me  about  it.  From  the  very  first 
I've  wanted  your  friendship  and  your  confi- 
dence and  I  have  tried  many  times  to  gain  it. 
I  felt  there  was  a  reason  for  your  attitude  to- 
wards me  and  that  sometime  you  would  tell  me 
what  it  was.  Will  you  tell  me  now  ?  " 

"  There  is  not  much  to  tell,  Miss  Hooper, 
but  what  there  is  you  shall  hear  now.  The 


286   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

first  day  of  the  mathematics  class  you  may  re- 
member that  I  was  late,  and  when  I  entered 
your  room  you  spoke  to  me,  as  you  had  a  per- 
fect right  to  do,  about  my  tardiness,  and  re- 
minded me  that  the  class  began  at  nine  o'clock 
and  not  several  minutes  after.  Then  you 
called  on  me  for  the  Binomial  Theorem,  and 
because  I  could  not  remember  it  you  called 
upon  the  next  girl  and  after  she  recited  cor- 
rectly you,  indirectly  perhaps,  blamed  me  be- 
cause I  did  not  know  it.  I  am  extremely 
sensitive,  I  admit,  and  was  keenly  hurt  be- 
cause I  thought  you  had  criticized  me  too 
harshly  before  the  entire  class.  I  realized  that 
my  foundation  in  mathematics  was  very  poor, 
and  I  feared  my  work  would  be  an  utter  fail- 
ure, particularly  as  I  had  begun  in  such  a 
way.  I  acted  upon  the  impulse  of  the  mo- 
ment and  got  permission  to  drop  the  subject 
and  substitute  psychology  in  its  place.  Many 
a  time  I  have  regretted  it,  but  it  is  done  and 
I  have  been  the  one  to  suffer  the  penalty.  It 
is  a  very  poor  explanation,  Miss  Hooper,  but 
such  as  it  is,  I  hope  you  will  accept  it." 

"Yes,  Jean,  and  I  see  how  much  to  blame 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  287 

I  was,  too.  My  greatest  weakness  has  always 
been  my  sarcastic  tongue,  which  I  can  never 
quite  seem  to  control,  try  as  I  will,  and  I  fear 
I  have  caused  many  another  girl  unhappiness 
through  my  thoughtlessness.  I  feel  that  I  am 
as  much  to  blame  as  you  and  I  offer  you  my 
apology.  Will  you  accept  it?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,  Miss  Hooper." 

"  And  now,  Jean,  that  we  are  talking  along 
this  line  may  I  speak  a  little  about  your  col- 
lege course?  I  have  been  interested  in  you 
from  the  start,  and  I  have  followed  your  work 
in  all  the  departments  very  carefully.  I  know 
how  badly  you  got  behind  the  first  three 
months  and  the  warnings  you  received.  I 
know  the  fresh  start  you  took  and  the  steady 
progress  you  have  made  ever  since,  and  the 
splendid  all-around  freshman  you  are  showing 
yourself  to  be.  I  do  not  want  it  to  stop  there. 
I  want  you  to  come  back  to  Ashton  for  an- 
other year,  anyway,  and,  if  possible,  for  the 
whole  four  years.  You  have  an  influence  with 
the  girls;  you're  a  born  leader  and  can  accom- 
plish great  things  or  small  things  as  you  choose. 
I  think  you  prefer  the  great  things  and  it  will 


288   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

take  longer  than  this  short  year  to  accomplish 
them.  I  am  not  thinking  of  your  taking  my 
particular  course,  as  you  have  said  you  wish 
to  do,  that  in  itself  is  a  little  thing,  but  it  is 
the  principle  of  the  thing,  for  if  you  conquer 
that  you  will  conquer  the  bigger  obstacles  that 
must  beset  your  path.  Education  is  not  a  four 
years'  college  course;  it  is  life,  and  there  are 
always  going  to  be  mathematic  courses,  which, 
though  unpleasant,  must  be  taken  up  and  fin- 
ished, and  the  way  you  meet  them  then  depends 
upon  the  start  you  make  now. 

"  I  realize  that  home  means  a  great  deal  to 
you,  and  so  it  does  to  all  of  us  while  we  have 
it,  and  the  memories  of  it  last  us  long  after 
we  have  lost  it,  but  it  will  mean  all  the  more 
to  you  later  on.  I  know  what  I  am  telling  you, 
Jean,  for  I've  lived  and  learned  myself.  I'm 
begging  you  with  all  my  heart  and  soul  to 
come  back  to  us  and  be  the  fine,  splendid 
woman  your  father  and  brothers  expect  you  to 
become.  Perhaps  I've  said  more  than  I  should, 
but  I'm  so  anxious  for  you,  Jean." 

"  No,  Miss  Hooper,  it's  been  splendid  to  hear 
you  talk  like  this;  it's  as  my  mother  would 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  289 

have  talked;  it's  what  I've  needed  all  these 
years.  I've  always  done  pretty  much  as  I 
wanted  to,  without  considering  any  one  but 
myself.  You're  right,  I  ought  to  come  back 
and  do  what  father  and  my  brothers  want  me  to 
do  and  what  you  want  me  to  do  and  what  I 
want  to  do  myself.  Yes,  I  admit  it  to  you 
now;  I've  struggled  against  it  all  the  year. 
Every  time  I've  said  I  wasn't  coming  back  I 
knew  it  wasn't  right.  Something  in  me  al- 
ways said,  '  You  are  coming  back ;  you  know 
you  are,'  but  I  wouldn't  listen  and  tried  to  de- 
ceive myself  and  everybody  else,  but  I  can't 
any  longer.  I'm  coming  back  and  take  Math- 
ematics I  and  French,  too,  if  I  fail  at  June, 
and  I'm  going  to  work  with  all  that's  in  me 
for  dear  old  Ashton  College. 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  Miss  Hooper,  for  coming 
just  when  you  did,  for  I  think  if  I  had  seen 
father  first  it  would  have  been  harder  for  me 
to  decide  the  right  way.  And  now  that  I  feel 
so  differently  about  coming  back,  perhaps  I 
shall  change  my  mind  about  the  summer  vaca- 
tion. You  quite  took  my  breath  away  by  ask- 
ing me  to  go  with  you.  I  couldn't  believe  that 


290  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

you  would  want  to  travel  with  any  one  as  silly 
as  I  have  continually  shown  myself  to  be. 
You  said  perhaps  there  would  be  one  or 
two  other  girls.  Have  you  asked  any  one 
else?" 

"  No,  Jean,  because  I  wanted  to  find  out  first 
how  you  felt  about  it,  and  if  you  cared  to  go 
I  wanted  you  to  suggest  others  that  you  would 
like  to  have  with  us.  Do  you  know  of  any 
one?" 

"  Yes,  I  know  of  one  whom  I  should  prefer 
above  all  others  and  who  would  enjoy  it  more 
than  all  others,  but  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you 
who  it  is  just  now,  if  you  don't  mind.  I've  got 
to  think  it  all  over,  and  after  father  has  come 
and  we  have  had  a  good  talk  together,  I'm 
going  to  take  him  to  your  room,  if  I  may,  and 
tell  you  my  decision.  I'm  very  favorably  in- 
clined, though,  at  the  present  moment." 

"  I  agree  with  you  that  it  would  be  best  to 
leave  it  until  your  father  comes  and  you  can 
talk  it  over  with  him.  I  shall  be  very  glad  to 
have  you  bring  him  to  see  me  as  often  as  you 
care  to  while  he  is  here.  This  has  been  a 
splendid  afternoon,  Jean,  and  I  thank  you  for 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  291 

it  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  and  I  hope  it 
is  the  beginning  of  many  others." 

"  I  think  you  are  the  one  to  be  thanked,  Miss 
Hooper,  and  not  I." 

"  Well,  perhaps  we  both  can  accept  the 
other's  thanks  if  we  feel  that  we  need  to,  and 
now  I  must  hurry  on  or  I  shall  be  late  for  sup- 
per and  that  is  a  very  poor  example  for  a 
matron  to  set  her  girls.  Come  and  see  me 
often.  Good-by  for  to-day,"  and  she  hurried 
down  the  corridor,  leaving  Jean  smiling  at  the 
door. 

About  a  week  after  this  conversation  took 
place  a  telegram  came  informing  Jean  that 
her  father  would  arrive  in  Boston  on  the  next 
day,  Wednesday,  and  she  was  to  meet  him  at 
the  train.  It  was  a  very  happy  and  excited 
girl  who  watched  the  New  York  express 
empty  its  passengers  at  the  South  Station,  and 
she  was  beginning  to  fear  he  had  been  de- 
layed somewhere  along  the  way,  for  at  first 
she  could  not  find  him  in  the  hustling  crowd. 
But  after  a  while,  away  down  the  platform, 
she  caught  sight  of  him  waving  his  hat  as  he 
saw  her  up  beside  the  gate.  It  was  a  joyful 


292  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

meeting,  and  how  their  tongues  did  fly!  Mr. 
Cabot  had  been  to  New  Haven  to  see  Tom  and 
Jean  insisted  upon  hearing  all  about  that. 

They  sat  down  in  the  big  waiting-room  and 
talked  and  talked  and  looked  at  each  other  to 
be  sure  it  was  really  they.  "  I  can't  believe 
you're  really  here,  Daddy;  it  seems  as  though 
I  were  dreaming.  Just  pinch  me  and  see  if 
I  am  asleep  or  awake."  A  hearty  pinch  as- 
sured Jean  that  she  was  awake,  but  she  ex- 
claimed, "  Oh,  but  it's  good  to  have  you  here 
with  me ! " 

"  Let  me  look  at  you,  Jeannie  dear ;  you're 
changed  somehow.  You  look  the  same  and 
still  there's  something  in  your  face  I've  never 
seen  there  before.  What  is  it?" 

"  Nothing,  Father,  that  I  know  of.  I'm 
just  glad  I'm  alive  and  you're  with  me,  that's 
all.  How  long  can  you  stay  with  me  ?  I  want 
to  know,  for  there  are  so  many  things  I  want 
you  to  do  and  see." 

"  I  must  go  back  to  New  York  to-morrow 
night,  Jean,  for  I  have  an  appointment  there 
the  following  day.  How  would  you  like  to 
go  back  with  me,  girlie?" 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  293 

"  Do  you  mean  New  York,  Father,  or  Cali- 
fornia?" 

"Well,  when  I  spoke  I  meant  New  York, 
but  how  about  California?" 

"  I  should  like  to  go  to  New  York  all  right, 
but  not  to  California.  I  did  want  to  go  badly 
only  last  week,  but  it's  all  over  now  and  I've 
changed  my  mind  and  I  want  to  stay  at  col- 
lege the  rest  of  the  year  and  the  other  three 
years,  too.  And  I've  something  to  ask  you, 
Dad,  about  this  summer."  And  then  she  told 
him  about  Miss  Hooper's  plans  for  the  trip 
abroad,  and  they  got  so  interested  in  it  that 
they  forgot  entirely  where  they  were  and  what 
time  it  was. 

"  Why,  Father,"  exclaimed  Jean,  "  here 
we're  wasting  perfectly  good  time  sitting  in 
an  old  railroad  station  when  we  might  be  up 
town  or  out  at  college!  Look  at  the  clock; 
we've  been  sitting  here  over  two  hours.  Why, 
we  won't  get  any  supper  if  we  don't  hurry. 
You  can  stay  with  me  at  Merton  for  supper, 
and  then  I've  engaged  a  room  for  you  at  the 
Inn  for  the  rest  of  the  time.  I  had  hoped  you 
would  stay  over  Sunday,  anyway.  Just  think 


294  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

of  all  the  things  I  want  to  show  you!  When 
can  I  do  it  all?" 

"  If  there  isn't  time  this  trip  we'll  have  to 
do  what  we  can  and  leave  the  rest  till  next 
winter,  for  if  you're  going  away  from  us  all 
summer  I'll  surely  have  to  find  a  business  call 
east  again  soon  after  you  return.  Perhaps  we 
had  better  start  now." 

There  followed  a  busy  twenty- four  hours  for 
Jean  and  her  father.  He  insisted  upon  meet- 
ing all  the  girls  Jean  had  written  him  about 
and  he  talked  with  them  about  the  events  of  the 
year,  for  he  was  perfectly  familiar  with  them 
through  Jean's  long,  breezy,  confidential  let- 
ters which  reached  him  every  Friday  regularly. 
He  was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Thompson  and 
some  of  the  faculty ;  he  was  shown  the  college 
buildings,  the  rare  volumes  and  art  treasures 
in  the  library,  but  he  wanted  most  to  see  the 
corridor  where  Elizabeth  had  fallen  asleep. 
He  considered  that  second  only  in  interest  to 
the  roof -stairs  where  Jean  had  guarded  the 
flag.  He  visited  the  "  Pond,"  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Allister's house,  and  the  society  rooms  and 
every  other  place  Jean  could  find  time  to  take 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  295 

him.  She  had  promised  Miss  Hooper  that 
her  father  and  she  would  have  afternoon  tea 
with  her  at  four  o'clock  and  she  proudly 
ushered  him  into  the  tiny  reception-room  at 
Wellington,  which  was  for  Miss  Hooper's  pri- 
vate use. 

They  talked  about  everything  in  general  and 
Miss  Hooper  carefully  avoided  all  mention  of 
the  European  trip  until  Mr.  Cabot  said,  "  I 
think  we  ought  not  to  stay  much  longer,  Jean, 
for  you  know  I  must  take  the  6.17  train  for 
Boston,  so  hadn't  we  better  tell  Miss  Hooper 
what  we  have  decided  about  Europe  ?  " 
"  Yes,  Father,  but  suppose  you  tell  her." 
"All  right,  dear;  I'm  very  glad  to  do  so. 
I'm  very  grateful  to  you,  Miss  Hooper,  for 
the  great  interest  you  seem  to  have  taken  in 
my  motherless  little  girl.  She's  a  good  girl, 
though,  and  I  don't  blame  any  one  for  taking 
an  interest  in  her.  If  she  wants  to  go  to 
Europe  with  you  for  the  summer,  I  tell  her 
she  can  go,  although  we'll  miss  her  terribly 
out  home.  She's  the  light  of  our  house,  you 
know,  and  it's  going  to  be  pretty  lonesome 
without  her,  but  I  want  her  to  see  the  world 


296  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

and  make  the  most  of  herself,  for  nothing  but 
the  best  will  suit  us.  We're  pretty  particular, 
that's  why  we  sent  her  east,  and  we  want  her 
to  stay  till  you've  given  her  all  you've  got  to 
give  and  she  feels  she's  learned  enough  to 
come  back  to  California  and  take  care  of  us. 
She  said  you  wanted  some  one  else  to  go  with 
you  and  she  does,  too,  and  when  I  asked  her 
who  it  was  to  be,  it  didn't  take  long  for  her  to 
say  '  Elizabeth  Fairfax.'  So  I'm  going  to 
send  her  along  with  Jean,  and  I  want  you  to 
do  the  same  for  both  of  them.  Give  them 
whatever  you  think  is  best  for  them  and  plenty 
of  it.  Jean  doesn't  want  Elizabeth  to  know 
anything  about  it  yet,  for  she's  planning  a  sur- 
prise, but  I'm  telling  you  now  so  that  you  can 
go  ahead  with  your  plans  and  be  ready  to  start 
the  day  after  Tom's  commencement.  He's 
counting  on  having  Jean  there  that  day,  for 
she's  got  to  represent  the  family,  so  I  shouldn't 
want  to  disappoint  him;  but  after  June  twen- 
tieth, the  sooner  the  better.  Wish  I  could 
go  with  you,  but  I  can't  leave  the  business 
this  year. 

"  Just  one  more  cup  of  tea,  thank  you,  and 


MR.  CABOT'S  VISIT  297 

we'll  be  going.  This  is  the  best  tea  I've  had 
since  I  can  remember.  Have  you  learned  how 
to  make  it,  Jean  ?  " 

''  Yes,  Father,  I  can  make  tea,  but  not  like 
Miss  Hooper's.  Every  one  says  she  makes 
the  best  tea  in  college.  Now  we  must  go," 
and  after  a  rather  protracted  leave-taking  they 
almost  ran  for  the  train. 

As  Miss  Hooper  was  washing  her  tea- 
dishes  and  putting  them  away,  she  hummed  a 
little  song  to  herself  and  said,  "  No  wonder 
Jean  Cabot  is  such  a  splendid  girl.  How  can 
she  help  it  with  such  a  father?  " 

And  as  Jean  and  her  father  hastened  to  the 
little  station,  Mr.  Cabot  said  to  Jean,  "  Mighty 
fine  woman,  that  Miss  Hooper,  mighty  fine 
woman.  Almost  makes  me  want  to  study 
mathematics  myself." 

In  a  few  moments  he  was  on  the  train,  wav- 
ing good-by  to  Jean,  and  if  she  had  not  had 
this  great  new  happiness  in  her  heart  it  would 
have  been  very  hard  to  let  him  go  back  home 
without  her,  but  she  smiled  bravely  through 
her  tears  and  walked  back  to  Merton  appar- 
ently as  happy  as  ever. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

PRIZE-SPEAKING 

JEAN  spent  the  spring  vacation  with  Eliza- 
beth up  on  "  Olympus,"  as  she  called 
their  hilltop  village,  and  she  found  the 
beauty  and  new  experiences  of  the  spring  as 
fascinating  as  those  of  the  winter.  Although 
every  waking  hour  seemed  filled  to  the  brim, 
still  it  was  a  restful  change  and  the  two  girls 
returned  to  college  with  new  strength  and  en- 
thusiasm to  begin  the  last  term  of  the  year. 
They  would  need  it  all,  too,  for  this  is  the 
hardest  term  of  the  year,  with  the  hot,  droop- 
ing days  of  May  and  June,  and  still  hotter 
nights,  when  studying  seems  almost  impossible 
and  one  is  content  to  sit  in  the  darkness  and 
watch  the  stars  and  dream  such  dreams  as  float 
through  college  girls'  heads  on  nights  in  June, 
when  all  the  world  is  theirs. 

On  the  Monday  after  they  returned  to  col- 
lege, both  girls  went  up  to  oratory  class  in 
298 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  299 

the  afternoon  and  sat  back  to  enjoy  the  hour, 
knowing  it  was  not  their  turn  to  mount  the 
platform  and  hold  forth.  Jean  sat  near  the 
open  window  and  was  breathing  in  the  balmy 
air  and  watching  some  greedy  robins  snatch 
at  the  worms  in  the  damp,  new  grass.  She 
had  almost  forgotten  there  was  such  a  thing 
as  oratory  until  Miss  Moulton's  clear,  pene- 
trating voice  brought  her  back  to  consciousness 
again. 

"Of  course  you  know,  young  ladies,  that 
prize-speaking  is  an  annual  event  at  Ashton, 
and  it  is  a  great  honor  to  participate  in  it. 
Any  member  of  the  oratory  classes  is  eligible. 
In  the  freshman  divisions  I  have  made  it  a 
rule  that  every  girl  must  do  one  of  two  things : 
either  she  must  learn  a  new  selection  or  choose 
one  already  learned  during  the  year  and  pre- 
sent it  to  the  committee  of  the  faculty  chosen 
to  judge  the  preliminary  speakers ;  or  she  must 
write  an  original  poem  or  prose  selection  and 
present  it  before  the  freshman  oratory  classes. 
The  preliminary  prize-speaking  will  take  place 
in  the  chapel  on  the  evening  of  May  twelfth 
at  eight  o'clock.  The  annual  prize-speaking 


300  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

will  take  place  at  three  o'clock  on  the  afternoon 
of  June  sixth.  The  classes  will  meet  May 
twenty-eighth  for  the  afternoon  of  original 
work.  I  hope  you  will  all  take  great  interest 
in  this  work  and  feel  free  to  consult  me  at  any 
time  about  it.  Unless  there  are  some  questions 
to  be  asked  now,  we  will  consider  the  class 
excused." 

As  the  girls  left  the  class-room  there  was 
but  one  topic  of  conversation,  for  Miss  Moul- 
ton  had  rilled  their  minds  with  but  one  thought. 
Neither  one  of  her  propositions  pleased  the 
majority  of  the  girls,  for  one  looked  as  diffi- 
cult as  the  other.  Of  course  a  few  were  de- 
lighted with  what  she  had  said,  for  they  had 
been  anticipating  the  event  and  in  their  hearts 
had  secret  hopes  of  being  the  prize  winner, 
even  though  there  were  upper-class  girls  to 
compete  with  them.  The  chapel  steps  looked 
so  attractive  in  the  afternoon  sunshine  that 
three  or  four  of  the  girls  wandered  over  there 
to  sit  down  for  a  few  moments  to  discuss  the 
question. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do,  Jean?"  said 
Anne  Cockran  as  she  limped  up  to  join  the 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  301 

girls.  Although  it  had  been  a  long  time  since 
her  accident,  she  could  not  walk  easily  yet. 

"  Don't  ask  me,  Anne ;  I  don't  know.  I 
don't  like  the  idea  of  exhibiting  my  limited 
oratorical  ability  before  the  faculty,  but  posi- 
tively I  haven't  an  original  idea  in  my  head. 
I'll  have  to  think  it  over." 

"  Why,  nonsense,  Jean,"  said  Bess  Johnson, 
"  everybody  knows  that  original  sonnet  you 
wrote  for  Miss  Whiting  last  month  was  the 
cleverest  thing  in  our  whole  division.  When 
Miss  Whiting  condescends  to  praise  anything 
we  freshmen  do,  you  can  take  it  from  me  that 
it's  pretty  good.  You  don't  need  to  hesitate 
about  going  in  for  the  original  stunt." 

"Elizabeth,"  said  Anne,  "you've  just  got 
to  try  for  the  prize,  for  there  isn't  a  girl  in  our 
whole  division  that  can  hold  a  candle  to  you. 
If  you  give  that  little  poem,  '  Carcasson,'  with 
which  you  won  Miss  Moulton's  heart  last  term, 
you'll  melt  the  faculty  to  tears,  and  they'll  put 
you  on  the  finals  before  you've  finished  the 
second  verse." 

"  Oh,  Anne,  you  flatterer,  why  I  couldn't 
compete  with  you  or  a  half-dozen  more  of  the 


302   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

girls  in  our  division,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
upper-class  girls,"  replied  Elizabeth,  smiling. 
"  I'm  trying  for  credit  in  my  German,  and 
perhaps  history,  and  it  takes  every  spare  mo- 
ment I  can  get  to  do  my  collateral  reading. 
It  seems  as  though  Miss  Evans  tried  to  see 
how  much  work  she  could  pile  on  us.  I  think 
I'll  try  at  the  preliminaries,  though,  because 
it's  easier  than  working  on  something  original. 
I  can  give  something  I  learned  last  term,  '  Car- 
casson,'  if  you  all  like  that  so  well." 

"  Like  it?  "  said  Jean.  "  Why,  Beth,  it's  by 
far  the  best  thing  anybody  has  done  in  class 
this  whole  year  and  you've  just  got  to  give  it, 
and  I  know  you'll  make  the  finals,  and  if  you 
do,  why,  we'll  all  insist  upon  your  trying  for 
all  your  worth  for  the  prize.  Why  shouldn't 
a  freshman  win  it?  Think  of  the  honor  for 
the  class.  You've  been  saying  lately  you 
wished  you  could  do  something  for  1915,  and 
here's  your  chance.  Why,  I  think  it's  an 
honor  just  to  be  on  the  finals  even  if  you  don't 
win  the  prize.  Wrho  knows  how  many  are 
generally  chosen  ?  " 

"Eight,  I  think,"  said  Bess  Johnson.     "I 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  303 

was  looking  over  Edith  Thayer's  memorabilia 
the  other  day  and  saw  a  last  year's  programme. 
Edith  spoke  last  year,  but  didn't  win  a  prize. 
As  I  remember  it,  there  were  eight  speakers. 
Anyway,  there  were  somewhere  near  that 
number." 

"  What  is  the  prize,  Bess  ?  "  asked  Anne. 
"  Miss  Moulton  forgot  to  say  anything  about 
that,  and  I  think  it's  the  most  important  item." 

"  The  first  prize  is  twenty-five  dollars  in 
gold  and  the  second  and  third  ten  dollars  each. 
Of  course  it's  the  honor  more  than  the  money 
that  counts,"  said  Bess,  whose  idea  of  money 
values  was  very  hazy,  being  abundantly  sup- 
plied by  an  indulgent  father.  Although  Eliza- 
beth said  nothing  she  thought  the  twenty-five 
dollars  would  help  her  a  great  deal  if,  by  any 
chance,  it  came  her  way,  for  she  needed  a  new 
dress  and  hat  for  class-day,  but  she  hated  to 
ask  her  father  for  anything  more  this  year. 

"  Well,"  said  Jean,  "  this  loafing  here  will 
never  do  for  me.  It's  society  meeting  to- 
night and  I've  got  a  theme  to  write  before  sup- 
per. If  any  of  you  want  to  see  me,  come 
right  down  to  the  room  and  make  yourselves 


304  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

comfortable,  but  don't  talk  to  me  until  I've 
finished  my  theme.  I  think  the  subjects  get 
worse  and  worse  every  week.  Where  do  you 
suppose  Miss  Whiting  ever  finds  them?  I 
should  think  her  poor  head  would  ache  many 
a  time  before  she  found  some  to  really  suit 
her.  I  wonder  if  she  ever  corrects  half  of  the 
themes." 

"  I  doubt  it,"  said  Bess ;  "  they  say  Mary 
Dudley  corrects  the  themes  in  the  daily  theme 
course,  for  she's  doing  special  work  in  the 
English  for  her  degree." 

All  the  girls  seemed  to  have  plenty  to  do, 
and  Jean  went  down  to  45  alone  and  worked 
on  her  theme  for  the  next  day  and  finished  it 
just  as  the  supper  bell  rang. 

When  the  preliminary  prize-speaking  took 
place,  it  was  surprising  how  many  entries 
there  were,  especially  among  the  freshmen,  for 
undoubtedly  most  of  them  had  decided  that 
this  was  the  lesser  of  the  two  evils  offered 
them  by  Miss  Moulton.  From  the  large  num- 
ber there  were  eight  chosen  for  the  finals  and 
among  them  was  Elizabeth  Fairfax,  the  only 
freshman  thus  honored.  There  were  three 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  305 

seniors,  two  juniors,  two  sophomores  and 
the  one  freshman,  and  1915  was  jubilant  over 
the  fact  that  one  of  its  members  was  chosen. 
When  Elizabeth  first  heard  of  it  she  was  a 
little  frightened  and  declared  she  never  could 
do  it,  but  when  she  saw  how  all  the  freshmen 
felt  the  honor  that  was  hers  in  being  chosen 
to  represent  them,  she  determined  to  enter  the 
contest  with  all  the  best  that  was  in  her  and 
prove  to  them  that  she  was  as  loyal  to  1915 
as  any  of  the  rest  of  them. 

She  spent  hours  and  hours  with  Miss  Moul- 
ton  and  finally  decided  upon  a  selection  which, 
like  the  others,  was  to  be  kept  secret  until  the 
programme  was  announced.  Every  minute 
that  she  could  spare  from  her  regular  work 
she  put  upon  her  selection,  and  as  the  fatal 
day  drew  near  she  went  again  and  again  to  the 
chapel  and  mounted  the  platform  to  move  the 
empty  seats  with  her  eloquence.  Miss  Moul- 
ton  gave  all  the  girls  equal  coaching,  and 
worked  harder,  perhaps,  than  all  the  girls  to- 
gether. When  she  had  heard  the  last  girl  re- 
hearse her  selection  for  the  last  time,  she 
closed  the  chapel  door  behind  her  with  a  bang 


306   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

and  locking  it  said  to  herself  and  the  clinging 
ivy  on  the  tower  wall,  "  I  wish  there  were 
eight  prizes  so  they  all  could  have  one,  for 
they  all  deserve  one,  still  I  hope  — " 

But  she  did  not  finish,  for  in  the  gathering 
dusk  she  recognized  Elizabeth  Fairfax's 
slender  figure  advancing  toward  her.  "  Oh, 
Miss  Moulton,  can  I  have  just  one  more  re- 
hearsal to-night?  There's  one  place  toward 
the  end  that  troubles  me." 

"No,  Miss  Fairfax,  not  to-night;  you  are 
tired  and  nervous  and  you  must  do  nothing 
more.  Take  my  advice  and  think  no  more 
of  your  selection  to-night ;  go  to  bed  early  and 
have  a  good  night's  sleep  and  to-morrow 
morning  you  will  have  forgotten  all  about 
these  imaginary  troubles.  It's  always  darkest 
just  before  the  dawn,  you  know,  so  let's  not 
think  any  more  about  prize-speaking.  I'm 
very  tired  to-night,  too,  but  I'm  going  home 
to  read  some  really  thrilling  detective  story 
or  something  equally  absorbing  until  I  get 
sleepy,  and  then  away  to  bed  in  spite  of  all 
the  work  I  ought  to  do.  I  advise  you  not  to 
do  any  studying  to-night,  for  you  are  ex- 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  307 

cused  from  to-morrow's  lessons.  Good  night, 
Miss  Fairfax.  I  wish  you  a  restful  night  and 
success  to-morrow,"  and  the  two  went  their 
separate  ways. 

There  could  not  have  been  a  more  beauti- 
ful June  day  than  the  one  chosen  for  prize- 
speaking.  The  sun  shed  its  warmth  and 
brightness  over  everything,  and  the  little  green 
leaves  danced  merrily  in  the  soft  summer 
wind.  The  rain  of  a  few  days  before  had 
freshened  the  grass  and  the  flowers  until  it 
seemed  as  though  they  were  outdoing  them- 
selves for  this  special  occasion.  Merry  little 
red  and  gray  squirrels  ran  up  and  down  the 
great  tall  trees  and  then  across  the  wide  paths, 
out  of  sight  to  another  tree,  and  some  of  the 
bolder  birds  sang  lustily  as  if  proud  of  their 
share  in  the  day's  festivities.  All  nature 
seemed  to  be  clapping  its  hands  to  applaud  the 
eight  nervous  speakers  concealed  somewhere 
in  the  rear  of  the  chapel. 

Prize-speaking  Day  is  properly  considered 
the  forerunner  of  Qass  Day  and  Commence- 
ment, hence  the  friends  of  the  college  make 
every  effort  to  attend  this  annual  event. 


308  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Long  before  three  o'clock  the  seating  capacity 
of  the  chapel  seemed  taxed  to  its  utmost,  and 
the  gallery  had  to  be  opened  to  accommodate 
the  waiting  throng.  Members  of  the  various 
oratory  classes  had  been  chosen  as  ushers  and 
were  pretty  indeed  in  their  white  dresses, 
with  sprays  of  green  ivy  twisted  in  their  hair, 
and  they  carried  batons  wound  with  white  and 
green  ribbons.  Jean  was  one  of  the  two  rep- 
resentatives of  the  freshman  class  and  was 
enjoying  every  moment  of  her  ushering,  for 
it  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  served  in 
this  capacity,  as  only  the  upper-class  girls 
ushered  at  Vespers  on  Sunday  afternoons. 

A  few  minutes  after  three  o'clock,  Miss 
Emerson  welcomed  the  guests  to  the  exercises 
of  the  afternoon  and  announced  the  entire  pro- 
gramme of  the  days  to  come.  Then  she  in- 
formed them  that  the  three  judges  were  from 
neighboring  colleges  and  at  the  close  of  the 
speaking  she  would  announce  their  decision 
regarding  the  prize.  In  conclusion,  she  asked 
that  there  be  no  applause,  and  then  took  her 
seat  with  the  other  members  of  the  faculty 
in  the  front  row  of  seats  usually  occupied  by 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  309 

the  seniors.  One  after  another  of  the 
speakers  came  upon  the  platform,  did  their 
very  best,  thrilled  their  listeners  and  then  took 
their  seats  on  the  front  row  of  the  annex 
which  had  been  reserved  for  them. 

Last  on  the  programme  was  Elizabeth  Fair- 
fax and  she  was  to  give  Tennyson's  "  Lady 
of  Shalot."  When  she  came  upon  the  plat- 
form she  looked  very  small  and  white,  and 
her  simple  muslin  dress  was  the  one  she  had 
worn  the  year  before  at  her  high-school  grad- 
uation. Instead  of  coming  to  the  front  of  the 
platform  as  the  others  had  done,  she  stood 
back  almost  in  the  center  of  the  stage,  where 
it  was  a  little  dark  in  spite  of  the  brilliance 
of  the  outdoor  world.  She  stood  for  a  mo- 
ment without  uttering  a  sound,  and  more  than 
one  of  the  vast  audience  thought  she  must 
have  become  stagestruck  and  forgotten  the 
lines,  but  soon  her  sweet,  clear  voice  began : 

"  On  either  side  the  river  lie 
Long  fields  of  barley  and  of  rye, 
That  clothe  the  wold  and  meet  the  sky ; " 

And  she  held  every  listener  spellbound  as 
she  told  the  sad  sweet  story  of  the  Lady  of 


310  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

Shalot  as  though  she  were  inspired,  and  when 
she  finished  with : 

"  But  Launcelot  mused  a  little  space : 
He  said,  '  She  has  a  lovely  face ; 
God  in  his  mercy  lend  her  grace, 
The  Lady  of  Shalot.' " 

For  a  moment  there  was  absolute  silence, 
and  then  followed  tremendous  applause  in 
spite  of  what  Miss  Emerson  had  said.  Every 
one  looked  at  her  neighbor  as  much  as  to  say, 
"  There's  not  a  question  but  that  she  deserves 
the  prize.  I  never  heard  anything  like  it." 

So  there  was  not  great  surprise  a  little  later 
when  Miss  Emerson  in  her  quiet  way  an- 
nounced the  prize-winners  and  first  called 
upon  Miss  Elizabeth  Fairfax  to  come  to  the 
platform.  In  presenting  her  with  the  tiny 
box  which  held  the  twenty-five  dollars  in  gold, 
she  congratulated  her  upon  her  excellent  work 
and  said  that  for  the  first  time  in  her  memory 
the  first  prize  had  been  given  to  a  freshman, 
consequently  she  might  be  doubly  proud  of 
what  she  had  done.  Elizabeth  thanked  her, 
and  very  white  and  trembling  took  her  place 
with  the  other  speakers. 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  311 

This  ended  the  exercises  and  as  the  audience 
arose  many  went  forward  to  offer  their  con- 
gratulations. Jean  seized  Elizabeth  and  whis- 
pered, "  You  were  just  wonderful,  but  I  knew 
you'd  do  it.  Oh,  I'm  so  proud  of  you  and 
I  wish  Dick  could  have  been  here,"  and  she 
gave  her  place  to  a  long  line  of  girls  and  fac- 
ulty, who  were  waiting  their  turn  to  speak  to 
her. 

When  Elizabeth  went  up  to  her  room  from 
the  supper-table  that  night  she  was  tired  but 
very  happy,  for  her  dream  of  doing  something 
worth  while  for  1915  was  realized.  She 
walked  slowly  down  the  corridor  and  opened 
the  door,  expecting  to  find  Jean  there,  for 
she  did  not  see  her  in  the  reading-room  with 
the  other  girls  as  she  passed  by  the  open 
door.  She  did  not  see  Jean  in  45,  but  she 
gave  a  little  gasp  at  the  sight  which  did  meet 
her  gaze.  The  study-table  which  usually 
stood  in  the  center  of  the  room  was  drawn 
up  between  the  couch  and  Elizabeth's  desk. 
It  had  been  cleared  of  the  books  and  lamp 
which  usually  adorned  it  and  was  one  mass  of 
brilliant  bloom.  There  were  roses  and  carna- 


312   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

tions  and  sweet  peas  and  lilies  of  the  valley 
filling  the  room  with  their  sweetness.  For 
several  moments  Elizabeth  just  gazed  and 
then  walking  up  to  the  flowers'  found  there 
were  cards  attached  to  each  bouquet.  The 
roses  were  from  Jean,  the  carnations  from 
Miss  Hooper,  the  sweet  peas  from  Merton 
House  girls,  and  the  lilies  from  Miss  Moul- 
ton.  Elizabeth  had  never  had  so  many 
flowers  in  all  her  life  before  and  could  not 
quite  believe  they  were  all  hers.  She  buried 
her  face  in  the  great  American  Beauty  roses 
and  was  whispering  a  secret  to  them  when 
Jean  came  out  from  the  bedroom. 

"  Well,  little  room-mate,  what  do  you  think 
of  yourself  now?  I  couldn't  stay  away  an- 
other minute.  The  flowers  came  while  we 
were  at  supper  and  I  hustled  upstairs  the 
minute  I  was  through  so  I  could  have  them 
arranged  before  you  came.  Then  after  every- 
thing was  ready  I  waited  and  waited,  but  I 
thought  you  never  would  come.  When  at  last 
I  heard  you  coming  down  the  hall,  I  hid  in 
the  bedroom  to  see  what  you  would  do.  You 
looked  just  about  as  surprised  as  when  Miss 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  313 

Emerson  called  you  to  the  platform  this  after- 
noon." 

"  Of  course  I  was  surprised,  Jean.  I  never 
had  so  much  happen  to  me  in  one  day  before 
in  all  my  life  and  I  can  hardly  believe  it's 
true.  How  I  wish  Father  and  Brother  could 
know  all  about  it  and  see  what  you've  done 
for  me!  I  must  sit  down  and  write  to  them 
now  so  the  letter  will  go  out  the  first  thing  in 
the  morning." 

"Before  you  write  your  letter,  Elizabeth,  I 
want  to  ask  you  something.  Come  over  here 
on  your  couch  and  sit  down,  for  you  are  tired, 
and  we  can  enjoy  the  flowers  there  just  as 
well  as  standing  up  in  the  middle  of  the 
room." 

"  All  right,  Jean,  but  let  me  take  one  of 
your  roses  with  me.  It's  the  first  time  I've 
ever  had  an  American  Beauty  of  my  very  own. 
How  good  you  were  to  give  them  to  me! 
You  must  have  known  how  badly  I  have 
wanted  one." 

In  a  moment  the  two  girls  sat  down  upon 
Elizabeth's  couch  and  in  Elizabeth's  hand  was 
a  beautiful,  long-stemmed  rose.  "  What  are 


314  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

you  going  to  do  this  summer,  Beth?"  asked 
Jean. 

"  I  don't  quite  know  yet,"  Elizabeth  an- 
swered. "  I  feel  as  though  I  were  needed  at 
home  so  that  mother  can  go  away  to  visit  her 
people  in  Vermont,  but  I  wish  I  could  find 
some  work  to  do,  for  I  want  to  earn  the  money 
for  next  year  to  help  father  all  I  can.  Some 
of  the  girls  are  talking  about  waiting  on  the 
table  at  the  beach  or  at  the  mountains  and  I 
thought  of  applying,  too.  Christine  Newell  is 
going  to  the  White  Mountains  and  says  she 
went  last  year  and  earned  fifty  dollars.  She 
wants  me  to  go  there  with  her,  but  I  haven't 
decided  yet." 

"  Before  you  decide,  Elizabeth,  I  want  to 
tell  you  something,  and  perhaps  it  will  alter 
your  plans  a  little.  Miss  Hooper  is  going 
abroad  for  the  summer  and  has  invited  me  to 
go  with  her.  When  father  was  here  I  told 
him  about  it  and  my  decision  to  stay  at  Ash- 
ton  for  the  four  years.  He  was  so  delighted 
that  he  consented  to  the  trip  abroad  for  the 
summer  and  said  I  might  take  any  girl  with 
me  that  I  chose.  Now  I  have  chosen  you, 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  315 

Elizabeth,  and  I  want  you  to  say  you  will  go 
to  the  British  Isles  with  Miss  Hooper  and  me 
for  your  vacation.  I  have  known  about  it 
ever  since  father  was  here  and  it  has  been 
awfully  hard  to  keep  it  a  secret,  but  I  wanted 
to  wait  until  after  prize-speaking,  for  I  made 
up  my  mind  that  if  you  didn't  win  the  first 
prize  I  should  offer  you  this  as  a  consolation 
prize,  and  if  you  did  win  the  prize  then  this 
would  be  my  own  special  prize.  What  do 
you  say,  will  you  accept  my  prize,  too?  " 

At  first  Elizabeth  could  not  speak  and  just 
looked  straight  at  Jean  as  if  to  determine 
whether  or  not  she  was  jesting.  "  Why, 
Jean  Cabot!  What  are  you  talking  about? 
I  spend  a  whole  summer  in  Europe?  Why, 
you  must  be  dreaming.  I've  never  been  out 
of  New  England  and  don't  expect  to  go  to 
Europe  till  I've  taught  years  and  years. 
Why,  all  the  money  I  have  in  the  world  is 
this  twenty-five  dollars  I  won  to-day  and  I 
need  that  to  buy  my  class-day  dress  and  hat 
and  shoes.  Where  do  you  suppose  I'd  ever 
get  the  money?  Why,  it  takes  more  than  it 
does  to  go  to  college." 


316  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

;<  You  big  goosie,  you  don't  understand. 
You  needn't  consider  the  money;  I'm  going 
to  take  you  for  my  companion  and  it  isn't  to 
cost  you  a  penny.  Father  would  like  to  go 
himself  and  would  if  it  wasn't  for  business, 
so  he  wants  you  to  go  with  me  in  his  place. 
Don't  you  see  now  what  I  mean  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Jean,  but  why  do  you  want  me  ? 
There  are  so  many  of  the  other  girls  like 
Peggy  and  Natalie  and  Sallie,  who  have 
traveled  and  know  more  about  the  world  than 
I.  I'm  pretty  green,  you  know,  when  it 
comes  to  society." 

"Nonsense,  Elizabeth;  if  I  hadn't  wanted 
you  more  than  any  one  else  I  shouldn't  have 
asked  you.  Is  it '  yes  '  or  '  no  '  ?  Quick !  " 

"  Why,  you  take  my  breath  away,  Jean.  I 
can't  believe  you  want  me  to  go  with  you." 

;<  Yes,  I  do,  I  tell  you,  and  you  must  say 
*  yes,'  for  I  shan't  take  any  other  answer. 
Now  write  your  letter  home  and  tell  them 
what  you  are  going  to  do,  or  rather  get  their 
permission  to  do  what  you  wish  to  do.  After 
you  finish  the  letter  we'll  take  it  down  to  the 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  317 

office  and  then  go  over  to  Miss  Hooper's 
room  for  a  minute.  You  want  to  thank  her 
for  the  flowers  she  sent  you,  and  I  want  to 
tell  her  that  you  are  going  with  us.  She  will 
tell  you  what  her  plans  are,  and  from  now  on 
we  must  do  a  lot  of  reading  with  her  about 
the  places  we  are  to  visit,  for  we  don't  want 
to  appear  to  be  perfect  ignoramuses  in  the  land 
of  our  forefathers.  Of  course  you  know 
English  history  from  A  to  Z,  but  I  can  never 
tell  one  king  from  another  and  always  mix 
up  all  the  battles  and  wars,  so  it's  good  hard 
reading  from  now  on  for  me." 

"  Of  course  you  know  I'd  like  to  go,  Jean, 
but  it's  so  sudden  I  can't  quite  grasp  it  all,  but 
I'll  write  home  and  tell  them  all  about  it,  and 
when  I  hear  from  them  I  can  tell  you  defi- 
nitely." 

"  I'm  going  to  write  a  letter  to  your  father 
this  very  minute,  too,  and  tell  him  what  I 
think  about  the  matter.  Let's  see  who  will 
finish  first." 

Both  pens  scratched  away  at  a  merry  rate, 
and  each  girl  found  so  much  to  say  that  the 


college  clock  struck  eight  before  either  one 
realized  it.  "There,  I've  finished,"  said 
Jean.  "  How  about  you  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  little  more  on  this  page  and  then 
I'll  be  ready.  You  collect  the  letters  on  the 
hall  windows  and  go  downstairs  and  register 
and  I'll  be  through  by  that  time." 

After  the  letters  were  dropped  into  the 
box  outside  the  post  office,  Jean  exclaimed, 
"  There,  that's  off  my  mind !  Now  to  tell 
Miss  Hooper." 

They  found  Miss  Hooper  alone  in  her 
study  lying  on  the  couch  because  of  a  severe 
headache.  The  girls  insisted  that  she  remain 
there  in  spite  of  her  protests.  "  We're  only 
going  to  stay  a  minute,  anyway,  Miss  Hooper. 
I've  come  to  tell  you  that  Elizabeth  has  con- 
sented to  travel  with  us  this  summer."  Eliza- 
beth opened  her  mouth  to  say  something,  but 
Jean  began  again,  "  She  hasn't  really  said  she 
would  go,  but  she's  written  home  and  after 
she  hears  from  her  father  she'll  tell  us  '  yes  ' 
pretty  quickly.  Won't  you,  Elizabeth  ?  " 

"  I  think  it's  wonderful,  Miss  Hooper,  but 
it's  just  like  Jean,  always  doing  something  to 


PRIZE-SPEAKING  319 

give  pleasure  to  other  people.  I  want  to 
thank  you,  too,  for  the  beautiful  flowers  you 
sent  me.  I  don't  deserve  all  the  good  things 
that  have  come  to  me  to-day." 

"If  you  didn't  deserve  them,  dear,  I  am 
sure  they  never  would  come  to  you.  We 
shall  be  a  very  congenial  trio,  I  am  sure,  this 
summer,  and  I  wish  you  both  would  come  to 
see  me  Wednesday  evening  next  so  we  can  talk 
over  our  plans.  I  have  a  list  of  reading  to 
give  to  you.  Jean  tells  me  you  are  a  lover 
of  history  and  literature,  Elizabeth,  so  per- 
haps you  have  read  my  list  already.  If  so, 
we  shall  depend  upon  you  for  a  great  deal  of 
our  information,  for  there  is  very  little  time 
left  in  which  to  do  a  great  deal  of  work.  I 
am  sorry  I  do  not  feel  better  to-night,  for  we 
might  have  begun  now." 

"  No,  Miss  Hooper,  we  must  not  stay  a 
moment  longer,"  said  Jean.  "  Elizabeth  is 
tired,  too,  and  we  both  have  a  little  studying 
to  do  before  ten  o'clock  bell.  I  hope  your 
head  will  be  better  in  the  morning.  Good 
night." 

"  Good  night  to  both  of  you,  and  thank  you 


320  JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

for  coming,"  said  Miss  Hooper,  and  the  two 
girls  left  Wellington  and  strolled  slowly  home- 
ward in  the  shimmering  moonlight.  As  they 
neared  Merton,  Elizabeth  broke  the  silence. 
"  I  hate  to  go  indoors,  Jean,  and  have  this 
splendid  day  end.  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
it's  all  been  a  dream.  Pinch  me  and  let  me 
see  if  I'm  really  awake." 

"  Oh,  you're  awake  all  right,  Elizabeth," 
said  Jean,  but  she  gave  Elizabeth's  arm  a 
vigorous  pinch  to  assure  her  that  she  really 
was  awake.  "  It's  only  the  beginning  of  a 
whole  summer  of  splendid  days  if  you'll  only 
say  you'll  go  with  us." 

"I'll  go,  of  course,"  said  Elizabeth,  "if 
father  thinks  it's  all  right,"  and  the  two  girls 
left  the  summer  moonlight  behind  them  and 
climbed  the  stairs  to  45. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE   TENNIS    TOURNAMENT 

IT  did  not  take  long  for  a  letter  to  come 
back  to  the  two  girls  from  Dr.  Fairfax, 
gladly  giving  his  consent  to  the  proposed 
plan  for  the  summer  and  expressing  his 
gratitude  to  Jean  and  her  father  for  giving 
so  much  happiness  to  his  "  little  girl,"  as  he 
always  called  Elizabeth  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  she  had  long  since  grown  up.  Both  girls 
were  highly  elated  over  the  prospects  of  their 
trip,  and  for  the  first  few  days  could  hardly 
keep  their  mind  on  anything  else.  However, 
they  both  were  determined  to  make  the  most 
of  the  last  days  of  college  and  each  found 
her  different  interests  absorbing.  Elizabeth 
had  been  putting  all  her  spare  time  on  her 
extra  work  in  history  and  Jean  hers  on  the 
tennis  courts. 

Ever  since  warm  weather  had  made  out- 
door  sports  possible,   the  indoor  gymnasium 
321 


322   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

work  had  ceased,  and  the  girls  athletically  in- 
clined found  plenty  to  interest  them  out  of 
doors.  Ashton  could  well  boast  of  its  splen- 
did tennis  courts  directly  back  of  the  gym- 
nasium, and  on  any  pleasant  day  one  would 
find  the  courts  crowded.  Jean  had  been  out 
from  the  first  day  the  courts  were  ready  for 
use,  and  was  easily  acknowledged  to  be  one 
of  the  best  players  in  college  —  without  a  ques- 
tion the  best  player  in  the  freshman  class. 
Several  of  the  upper-class  girls,  among  them 
Natalie  Lawton,  Madeline  Moore,  and  Avis 
Purrington,  were  working  hard  and  had  an- 
nounced their  intentions  of  going  into  the 
tournament.  All  along  Jean  had  also  secretly 
determined  to  enter,  if  it  were  a  possible 
thing,  and  she  wanted  to  win,  too.  It  was  her 
last  chance  to  really  do  something  for  1915, 
freshman  year.  The  only  obstacle  that  stood 
in  her  way  was  her  fear  of  failure  in  French, 
but  when  she  went  to  Mile.  Franchant  late  in 
May  and  asked  her  concerning  her  work, 
her  joy  knew  no  bounds  when  she  was  told 
that  her  mark  was  a  passing  one  and  she  could 
enter  the  tournament. 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     323 

On  the  night  of  the  twelfth  of  June,  the  day 
before  the  tournament  began,  several  of  the 
tennis  enthusiasts  were  down  in  Natalie  Law- 
ton's  room  discussing  the  events  of  the  next 
day.  "What  do  you  think  of  the  weather, 
Nat  ? "  said  Peggy  to  her  room-mate,  who 
stood  at  the  window,  apparently  lost  in 
thought  as  she  gazed  out  into  the  dark  and 
cloudy  night. 

"  Doesn't  look  very  promising,  girls,  does 
it?  It  will  be  a  shame  if  it  rains.  We  have 
had  such  perfect  weather  all  the  month  it 
seems  as  though  it  might  last  two  days  longer. 
The  courts  are  in  perfect  condition  now  and 
a  heavy  rain  will  spoil  everything.  How's 
your  courage,  Jean?  You've  drawn  first 
round,  haven't  you,  against  Cora  Hammond? 
I'm  in  the  other  court  against  Avis  Purring- 
ton.  How's  your  shoulder  to-night?  " 

"A  little  lame,  Nat,"  said  Jean,  "but  I'm 
going  to  rub  it  well  and  turn  in  early,  for  I 
need  the  sleep  all  right.  I'm  dead  to  the 
world.  If  you  don't  mind,  I  think  I'll  say 
good  night  now,  rival.  Are  any  of  the  rest  of 
you  coming  upstairs  with  me?  You  all  need 


324   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

sleep,  so  take  my  advice  and  stop  eating  that 
candy  and  get  a  good  night's  sleep." 

"Well,  who  ever  heard  of  such  nerve?" 
said  Natalie.  "  The  idea  of  a  little  freshie 
giving  advice  to  us  seniors  and  juniors.  But 
then,  I  guess  you're  right  in  spite  of  your 
age,  for  I  admit  I'm  tired,  too.  Suppose  we 
all  follow  suit  and  turn  in." 

"  Good  night,  girls,"  called  out  Peggy. 
"  Good  luck  to  you  all,  although,  of  course, 
you  can't  all  win  the  prize.  By  the  way, 
what  is  the  prize  ?  " 

"  Why,  Peggy,"  said  Natalie  disgustedly, 
"  you  know  perfectly  well  that  there  isn't 
any  prize.  It's  the  honor  of  the  thing.  Isn't 
that  enough  ?  " 

"Yes,"  said  Peggy;  "I'd  forgotten  about 
it.  Well,  'Happy  dreams,'"  and  then  the 
girls  scattered  to  their  different  rooms. 

In  spite  of  the  gloomy  outlook  of  the 
weather  the  night  before,  the  morning  of 
June  twelfth  was  as  perfect  as  its  predecessors 
had  been,  and  all  that  the  tennis  players  could 
wish  for.  The  preliminaries  were  to  be 
played  throughout  the  day,  as  the  programmes 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     325 

of  the  girls  allowed.  On  the  next  morning 
were  to  come  the  semi-finals  and  in  the  after- 
noon the  finals,  when  excitement  always  ran 
highest.  About  twenty  of  the  girls  had  en- 
tered the  tournament  and  most  of  them  were 
speedy  players.  There  were  only  two  fresh- 
men —  and  the  others  upper-class  girls. 
Although  Natalie  Lawton  had  won  the  cham- 
pionship the  year  before,  it  had  been  with 
great  difficulty,  and  her  opponent,  Madeline 
Moore,  was  all  the  more  anxious  to  win  out 
this  year.  Popular  sentiment  had  picked 
Natalie  Lawton,  Madeline  Moore,  or  Jean 
Cabot  as  the  winner  this  year,  so  it  was  not 
at  all  surprising  to  the  student  body  as  a  whole 
to  learn  that  at  the  end  of  the  preliminaries 
these  three  and  a  hitherto  unsuspected  sopho- 
more, Mabel  Hastings,  were  to  play  in  the 
semi-finals  on  the  following  morning.  It  was 
rather  a  coincidence  that  each  of  the  four 
classes  should  have  a  representative. 

The  semi-finals  took  place  at  ten  o'clock, 
and  there  were  some  of  the  hardest  sets  ever 
played  at  Ashton.  Jean  was  playing  Mabel 
Hastings  and  won  after  five  sets,  7-5,  1-6, 


326   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

6-8,  6-3,  6-1  and  Natalie  Law  ton  won 
from  Madeline  Moore  in  three  sets,  6-2, 
6-2,  6-1 ;  so  Natalie  and  Jean  were  left  to 
fight  for  the  finals  in  the  afternoon.  Jean 
was  so  excited  that  she  declared  she  could 
eat  no  dinner,  and  hurried  to  her  room  to  lie 
down  and  rest  until  the  finals,  which  were  to 
begin  at  three  o'clock.  Elizabeth  carried  up 
her  dinner  and  compelled  her  to  eat  all  that 
she  had  brought  her,  knowing  how  much  she 
needed  nourishment  after  her  violent  exercise 
of  the  morning.  Then  Jean  lay  quietly  in 
her  room,  although  she  could  not  sleep  from 
excitement,  and  she  waited  for  the  minutes 
to  pass  until  it  should  be  half -past  two  o'clock. 
It  seemed  as  though  every  girl  in  college  had 
turned  out  to  see  the  finals.  The  early  comers 
had  filled  the  few  seats  which  the  ground 
afforded;  the  rest  either  sat  on  the  grass  or 
stood  in  little  groups  near  by.  Here  and  there 
among  the  white  dresses  could  be  seen  the 
severely  dark  clothes  of  a  man,  for  it  was  one 
of  the  few  events  to  which  the  "  masculine 
element "  could  be  invited.  This  event  was 
followed  so  closely  by  Class  Day  and  Com- 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     327 

mencement  that  some  of  the  favorite  brothers 
or  cousins  or  friends  of  the  seniors  were  in- 
veigled into  coming  a  little  earlier,  ostensibly 
to  witness  a  tennis  tournament,  but  in  reality 
to  bask  a  little  longer  in  the  sunshine  of  the 
Sweet  Girl  Graduate. 

Promptly  on  the  stroke  of  three,  Jean  and 
Natalie,  in  their  immaculate  white  linens, 
walked  coolly  out  upon  the  courts  and  the 
play  began.  By  the  toss  of  the  racket  Jean 
won  the  first  serving  and  sent  one  of  her 
usual  swift  balls  into  the  opposite  court. 
Natalie  was  there  to  receive  it  and  sent  it 
back  as  swiftly  as  it  had  come.  Both  girls 
seemed  very  evenly  matched,  but  Natalie,  by 
deep  driving  to  Jean's  backhand,  won  the 
first  game.  Her  luck  changed  at  this  point 
though,  and  Jean  jumped  into  the  lead  of 
3-1.  Natalie  seemed  spurred  on  by  this,  and 
by  more  hard,  deep  driving  soon  had  Jean 
on  the  run.  She  played  into  the  net  oftener 
and  with  this  style  of  play  the  lead  changed 
to  Natalie  at  4-3.  The  eighth  game  was 
very  close.  Jean  got  to  3040  on  Natalie's 
serve,  but  fast  driving  on  Natalie's  part  won 


328   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

her  the  game,  making  the  score  5-3  in  her 
favor.  Jean  won  her  serve  in  the  next  game 
and  even  got  an  advantage  in  the  tenth,  but 
then  the  last  year's  champion  rose  to  the  oc- 
casion and  by  taking  a  net  position,  won  three 
successive  points  and  the  first  set  with  a  score 
of  6-4. 

There  was  a  rest  of  fifteen  minutes  before 
the  second  set,  and  the  two  players  left  the 
court  and  retired  to  the  gymnasium.  The 
crowds  out  of  doors  circulated  around  the 
grounds,  introducing  their  guests  and  talking 
over  the  remarkable  playing  of  both  girls. 
At  the  end  of  the  fifteen  minutes  the  players 
returned  and,  changing  courts,  began  the  sec- 
ond set. 

This  set  was  not  as  close  as  the  first  one 
but  was  as  full  of  spectacular  playing. 
Natalie  took  the  net  oftener  and  by  splendid 
smashing  ran  the  score  up  to  4-1  in  her 
favor.  Weakening  a  little  in  the  next  game, 
she  failed  to  return  Jean's  excellent  service, 
so  Jean  took  advantage  of  it  and  won  her 
second  game  in  the  set.  This  seemed  almost 
to  enrage  Natalie,  and  she  went  after  the  last 


NATALIE  WENT  AFTER  THE  LAST  TWO  GAMES  IN  WHIRLWIND 
FASHION. — Page  328. 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     329 

two  games  in  whirlwind  fashion  and  out- 
played Jean  in  every  way,  making  the  final 
score  of  the  second  set  6-2.  It  was  all  over 
before  Jean  realized  it,  and  she  had  lost,  and 
Natalie  had  won  the  college  championship  for 
a  second  time. 

She  saw  the  girls  hurrying  toward  Natalie, 
but  she  was  determined  to  be  the  first  to  con- 
gratulate her,  so  she  dropped  her  racket  and 
ran  as  fast  as  she  could  to  the  spot  where 
the  almost  exhausted  champion  had  dropped. 
"Congratulations,  Natalie,"  she  said;  "you 
certainly  deserve  the  championship,  and  I'm 
mighty  glad  you  won  it." 

All  Natalie  could  say  was,  "  Thank  you, 
Jean,  but  I  hate  to  take  it  away  from  you,  for 
you  wanted  it  so  badly." 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  that,"  said  Jean, 
smiling  bravely.  "  I've  got  three  more  years 
to  try  for  it,  and  you've  only  one.  I'll  have 
it  yet,  see  if  I  don't.  And  I'd  rather  have 
you  win  it  than  any  one  else  in  college.  We 
kept  it  from  the  sophs,  anyway,  and  there's 
a  lot  of  consolation  in  that.  I'm  monopoliz- 
ing you,  Nat,  for  all  the  girls  are  waiting  to 


330   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

offer  you  their  congratulations.     It  was  splen- 
did; that's  all  I've  got  to  say." 

Jean  had  to  acknowledge  to  herself  that  she 
was  terribly  disappointed,  but  as  soon  as  she 
realized  she  had  lost,  she  decided  to  make  the 
most  of  it  and  not  let  any  one  else  see  her 
real  feelings  in  the  matter.  She  smiled  in  her 
most  friendly  manner  to  all  of  the  girls  who 
came  to  compliment  her  on  her  splendid  play- 
ing, and  to  offer  their  sympathy  for  her  de- 
feat She  was  as  much  surrounded  as  the  real 
champion  and  accepted  all  of  the  homage  in 
a  most  gracious  way,  although  she  secretly 
longed  to  be  away  from  it  all  and  alone  by 
herself  to  have  it  out  once  for  all.  It  was 
some  time  before  she  could  leave  the  girls,  for 
it  was  an  ideal  day  to  linger  out  of  doors 
and  no  one  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry  to  leave 
the  courts.  At  last  she  managed  to  tear  her- 
self away  from  a  gushing  freshman  and  her 
fond  mamma  who  was  visiting  Ashton  for  the 
first  time,  and  felt  the  necessity  of  seeing 
everything  and  everybody  worth  while,  and 
started  down  towards  Merton  hoping  that  she 
would  not  be  held  up  again. 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     331 

She  had  gone  but  a  little  way  when  she 
heard  some  one  calling  to  her  from  behind. 
At  first  she  pretended  not  to  hear,  but  the  calls 
became  louder  and  more  insistent,  so  she 
turned  around  and  saw  Anne  Cockran  hurry- 
ing towards  her  and  waving  for  her  to  stop. 
There  was  nothing  to  do  but  wait,  so  she 
stopped  right  where  she  was  until  Anne 
caught  up  with  her. 

"  I've  been  looking  everywhere  for  you, 
Jean.  Where  have  you  been?  Every  time  I 
got  my  eye  on  you  on  the  courts  you  were 
completely  surrounded  by  fond  admirers  and 
I  couldn't  get  within  ten  feet  of  you.  Finally 
I  got  discouraged  and  went  over  to  talk  with 
Bess  Allison  and  some  friends  of  hers,  and 
when  I  left  them  and  looked  for  you  there 
wasn't  a  trace  of  you  anywhere." 

"  I  was  held  up  by  that  gushing  Gladys 
Norton  and  her  mother,  and  thought  I  never 
should  get  away  from  them,  and  when  I 
finally  managed  to  extricate  myself  I  was  so 
tired  of  people  and  conversation  that  I  made 
a  bee-line  for  Merton." 

"  Which  means,"  broke  in  Anne,  "  that  you 


332   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

wish  I  hadn't  butted  in  to  bother  you  some 
more.  That's  just  the  reason  you  didn't  stop 
when  I  called  to  you.  Well,  cheer  up,  Jean, 
I'll  not  bother  you  long;  I  just  wanted  to  talk 
to  you  a  few  moments,  but  I'll  leave  it  until 
another  time  if  you  want  me  to." 

"  No,  Anne  dear,  of  course  not;  but  it  was 
just  because  I  was  tired  and  disappointed  and 
felt  a  little  grouchy  at  every  one.  You  know 
how  you  felt  the  night  of  the  freshman- 
sophomore  basket-ball  game  when  you  got 
hurt  and  couldn't  play  any  more.  We  both 
know  what  it  is  to  be  disappointed,  don't  we? 
But  I'm  better  already  with  just  seeing  you 
this  short  time,  so  tell  me  what  you  wanted  to 
and  I  promise  you  my  undivided  attention." 

"  I  wanted  to  ask  you  something  rather 
than  tell  you  something,  and  I'm  just  a  little 
afraid  to  do  so.  You  know  room-drawing 
comes  the  day  before  Class  Day  and  I  wanted 
to  know  if  you  had  made  your  plans  for  room- 
mate next  year.  I  want  to  ask  you  to  live 
with  me.  I'm  sort  of  tired  of  Merton  and 
perhaps  one  of  us  will  draw  another  house 
and  choose  the  other  for  room-mate.  I  don't 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     333 

want  to  room  with  Sallie  another  year.  She's 
a  dandy  girl  and  we've  had  a  good  year  to- 
gether, but  isn't  just  exactly  my  style,  and 
then  besides,  she's  a  soph  and  we  are  always 
at  swords'  points  when  it  comes  to  class 
spirit.  But  you  are  just  the  girl  I  want. 
We're  in  the  same  class  and  society  and  we 
like  the  same  things  and  the  same  people  and 
we  both  want  to  make  basket-ball  next  year 
and  I'm  going  in  for  tennis,  too.  I've  never 
played  a  game  in  my  life,  but  after  to-day's 
games  I  wouldn't  miss  it  for  anything.  Of 
course  you  don't  want  to  room  with  Eliza- 
beth another  year.  She's  all  nice  enough  and 
a  fine  student,  but  not  at  all  your  style.  She'll 
probably  want  a  single,  anyway,  won't  she  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Anne,"  said  Jean  very 
thoughtfully. 

"  Well,  anyway,  Jean,  it  doesn't  make  any 
difference  to  us  what  she  wants  to  do,  the 
main  thing  is  that  I  want  to  room  with  you. 
What  have  you  to  say  about  it  ?  " 

"  Why  really  Anne,  I  haven't  thought  any- 
thing about  next  year.  I've  been  so  happy 
these  days  with  things  just  as  they  are  that 


334      JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

I  guess  I  thought  everything  was  going  on 
as  it  is  now.  When  we  are  contented  we  don't 
want  to  change,  do  we?  It's  awfully  nice  of 
you  to  say  that  you  want  to  have  me  room 
with  you  and  I  appreciate  it,  but  honestly, 
Anne,  I  can't  do  it.  Why,  if  Elizabeth  will 
have  me,  I  want  to  go  on  rooming  with  her. 
I  couldn't  really  stay  at  college  without  her. 
She's  my  safety-valve  and  inspiration  and  all 
that  sort  of  thing.  She  brings  out  the  best 
that's  in  me  and  I  need  her  more  than  any- 
thing else  in  the  whole  college,  and  then,  be- 
sides, I  think  the  world  of  her.  She's  the 
most  lovable  girl  you  can  imagine,  after  you 
get  to  know  her.  I  admit  she  doesn't  go  in 
for  clothes  and  men  and  good  times  generally, 
but  she's  clever  and  she's  going  to  amount  to 
something  before  she  leaves  this  place.  I 
haven't  asked  her  yet;  but  if  she's  willing  I 
want  her  for  my  room-mate  next  year,  and 
it  doesn't  make  much  difference  where  we 
room.  I've  grown  very  fond  of  Merton,  but 
I'd  prefer  Wellington  where  Miss  Hooper 
lives. 

"  By  the  way,  I'll  tell  you  a  secret.     Miss 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     335 

Hooper  and  Elizabeth  and  I  are  going  to  travel 
together  this  summer  in  the  British  Isles. 
Isn't  that  splendid?  Now,  Anne,  please  don't 
be  angry  with  me  because  I  won't  room  with 
you.  You  see  how  it  is.  We  can  be  the 
same  good  friends  as  ever,  can't  we,  even  if 
we're  not  room-mates  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  said  Anne,  "  but  I'm 
disappointed  and  I  can't  get  over  it  in  a  min- 
ute. I  can't  understand  what  you  see  in  Eliza- 
beth; she  seems  to  have  hypnotized  you  from 
the  very  first  of  the  year.  She's  all  right  and 
sweet  and  good  enough,  but  I  can't  under- 
stand your  awful  crush  on  her." 

"There,  there,"  said  Jean,  "don't  get  so 
excited  or  you'll  be  saying  things  you'll  be 
sorry  for  later  on.  Will  you  come  up  to  45 
until  supper  time?  I  want  to  get  into  some 
fresh  clothes.  I  feel  as  though  I'd  been 
through  a  Turkish  bath.  Wasn't  it  fright- 
fully hot  in  the  sun  ?  It  was  right  in  my  eyes 
the  last  game.  Isn't  Nat  a  perfect  wonder  at 
the  game  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  so  are  you,  and  I  was  just  boil- 
ing that  you  didn't  win.  You  put  up  a  much 


336   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

better  game  than  she  did  all  through  the  '  pre- 
lims '  and  semi-finals ;  you  had  all  the  'hardest 
players  up  against  you,  and  by  the  time  you 
got  to  the  finals  you  were  all  tired  out.  I 
think  you  deserve  as  much  credit  as  Natalie, 
even  if  she  did  win  at  the  end." 

"  My  goodness,  Anne,  but  you've  got  it  in 
for  everybody  this  afternoon!  Come  upstairs 
with  me  and  eat  some  candy  and  see  if  that 
will  sweeten  you  a  little." 

"  All  right,  I  will,  thank  you ;  I  haven't 
had  any  candy  for  an  age.  I'm  dead  broke 
since  I  bought  my  Class-Day  hat  and  I  don't 
get  another  cent  until  I  go  home.  I'm  afraid 
I'll  even  have  to  borrow  some  money  to  buy 
my  ticket  home  unless  Dad  will  be  favorably 
impressed  by  my  last  frantic  appeal  for  a  little 
more  money." 

The  girls  finished  a  large  box  of  chocolates, 
and  by  supper  time  Anne  was  in  a  much  bet- 
ter mood,  although  still  disappointed  because 
Jean  was  not  to  room  with  her.  When  Jean 
came  up  from  supper  that  night  a  little  later 
than  usual  she  found  Elizabeth  at  her  desk 
writing  a  letter.  She  stole  softly  up  behind 


THE  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT     337 

her  and  put  her  hands  over  her  eyes  and 
called  out,  "  Guess  who's  your  room-mate 
next  year,  Elizabeth." 

"  Oh,  is  it  you,  Jean  ?  I've  been  wanting 
all  day  to  ask  you  about  it,  but  I  didn't  quite 
dare.  I  heard  some  of  the  girls  talking  about 
the  room-drawing  last  night  when  I  was 
waiting  on  table,  and  that  was  the  first  time 
I  knew  anything  about  it.  I  thought  things 
would  go  on  just  the  same  every  year  unless 
one  wanted  to  change." 

"  And  do  you  want  to  change,  Elizabeth  ?  " 

"  No,  Jean,  but  I  wasn't  so  sure  about  you. 
There  are  so  many  of  your  other  friends,  you 
know." 

"  Well,  Elizabeth,  I'm  perfectly  satisfied 
with  my  present  room-mate  and  don't  intend 
to  change  her  for  any  one  else.  I  wish  we 
might  room  in  Wellington  so  we  could  be  near 
Miss  Hooper,  but  wherever  we  are  we'll  be 
together,  won't  we?  Now  I  must  write  a 
letter  to  Tom  about  Class  Day,  for  he  wants 
to  know  everything  he's  expected  to  do,  and 
if  I  don't  get  the  letter  mailed  in  the  morning 
he  won't  have  time  to  make  any  elaborate 


338   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

preparations.  Have  you  any  message  to  send 
him?" 

"  Why,  no,  Jean ;  I'll  save  them  until  I  meet 
him  Class  Day.  Now  get  to  writing,  for  it 
will  be  ten  o'clock  before  you  know  it  and 
you  must  be  tired  after  your  strenuous  day." 

"  Yes,  I  am  tired,"  said  Jean,  "  but  this 
letter  must  be  written  if  it  takes  till  midnight," 
and  she  wrote  several  pages  of  full  particu- 
lars about  Class  Day  to  Tom,  who  was  to  be 
her  special  guest  on  that  day.  He  was  to 
take  her  back  with  him  for  Yale  Commence- 
ment and  then  see  her  safely  to  New  York, 
where  she  was  to  meet  Miss  Hooper  and  Eliza- 
beth the  day  before  sailing. 


CLASS   DAY 

GLASS  DAY  at  Ashton  always  came  on 
a  Friday  with  Commencement  the 
following  Wednesday,  and  although 
the  undergraduates  were  not  generally  ex- 
pected to  remain  over  for  the  latter  event, 
they  all  took  great  interest  in  the  former  and 
made  it  the  gala  day  of  the  year.  Each  girl 
had  the  privilege  of  inviting  as  many  guests 
as  she  wished,  but  it  pretty  generally  nar- 
rowed down  to  one,  except  in  the  case  of  the 
graduates  who  had  all  their  mothers  and 
fathers  and  brothers  and  sisters,  uncles  and 
aunts,  cousins,  and  friends  to  entertain  be- 
sides "  the  one  "  who  generally  hung  around 
in  the  background,  endeavoring  to  be  gracious 
when  the  opportunity  presented  itself. 

On  the  night  before  Class  Day,  Jean  and 
Elizabeth  were  busy  in  their  room  with  their 
clothes  for  the  following  day.  Jean  was  not 

339 


340   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

satisfied  with  Elizabeth's  hat  which  she  had 
brought  out  from  town  that  very  afternoon. 
"  Now,  Elizabeth,  do  your  hair  low  as  you  in- 
tend to  wear  it  to-morrow  and  let  me  see 
what  I  can  do  in  the  way  of  trimming  hats. 
I  don't  like  this  shape  at  all  the  way  it  is 
now.  It's  not  at  all  becoming,  and  I  want 
you  to  look  your  prettiest  to-morrow.  The 
roses  are  a  beautiful  pink,  but  they  want  to 
come  down  lower  on  the  hat." 

While  she  was  talking,  Elizabeth  had  been 
fixing  her  hair  and  had  coiled  it  low  on  her 
neck.  "  Does  that  suit  your  Majesty  now  ? 
You're  altogether  too  fussy  about  my  per- 
sonal appearance.  Who  do  you  suppose  will 
notice  me  in  all  the  crowd?  If  I  had  a  man 
coming  over  from  Harvard  or  Yale  it  would 
be  different,  but  wandering  about  by  myself 
no  one  will  know  whether  my  hair  is  up  or 
down  or  whether  my  hat  is  the  latest  thing 
from  New  York  or  trimmed  at  home  by  the 
country  milliner." 

"  Why,  Elizabeth,  how  can  you  talk  so  ? 
Remember  Tom  is  going  to  be  your  guest 
as  well  as  mine.  We  three  are  going  to  do 


CLASS  DAY  341 

things  together,  so  you'd  better  make  up  your 
mind  to  look  your  prettiest,  for  Tom  is  mighty 
particular  when  it  comes  to  girls.  There, 
your  hair  looks  much  better  and  the  hat  fits 
down  closer  to  your  head.  I'm  going  to  take 
off  the  bow  and  put  it  on  the  other  side  after 
I've  put  the  roses  down  flat  around  the 
crown.  They're  too  stiff,  sticking  up  in  the 
air.  Now  look  in  the  glass  and  see  how  you 
like  the  effect." 

"  Oh,  it  does  look  ever  so  much  better, 
Jean.  Just  stick  in  some  pins  where  you 
want  things  to  go  and  I'll  do  the  sewing." 

"  No,  you  won't ;  I'm  going  to  finish  it. 
Who  says  I  can't  trim  hats  ?  " 

Just  then  there  came  a  vigorous  knock  at 
the  study  door.  Jean  seized  the  hat  from 
Elizabeth's  head,  and  still  holding  it  in  her 
hand  hastened  out  into  the  other  room  just 
as  Peggy  Allison,  acting  upon  Jean's  cordial, 
"  Come  in,"  entered  the  room. 

"  Going  into  the  hat  business,  Jean  ?  I 
wish  you'd  take  a  look  at  my  hat.  I'm 
awfully  disappointed  in  it  now  that  I've  got 
it  out  here.  It  doesn't  look  at  all  as  I  ex- 


342   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

pected  it  would.  Guess  it  will  have  to  do, 
though.  I  haven't  time  to  bother  with  an- 
other. That's  the  trouble  with  waiting  until 
the  last  moment  to  do  things,  but  I  do  hate 
buying  hats  in  Boston.  What  time  do  you 
expect  Tom,  Jean  ?  " 

"  He's  coming  over  from  New  York  on  the 
midnight,  so  he'll  probably  be  out  here  be- 
tween ten  and  eleven  o'clock.  .  I  told  him 
there  was  no  need  of  coming  before  ten,  any- 
way, and  I'll  be  busy  until  that  time  with  our 
chain,  for  we  have  left  part  of  it  until  morn- 
ing to  finish,  as  our  daisies  gave  out.  Is  your 
part  finished  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  we  were  through  about  five  o'clock 
and  were  tired  as  dogs.  Oh,  by  the  way, 
Jean,  Nat  wants  to  see  you  a  moment  about 
the  spread  tickets  right  away,  so  I'll  excuse 
you  and  visit  a  little  while  with  Elizabeth  if 
she  isn't  too  busy  to  talk  with  me." 

"All  right,  Peggy;  I'll  go  down  there  this 
minute  and  take  my  hat  along  to  finish.  Beth, 
please  hand  me  my  sewing-bag  on  the  couch. 
Thank  you,"  and  then  she  ran  down  the  stairs 
with  a  knowing  smile  on  her  face. 


CLASS  DAY  343 

About  an  hour  later  Jean  burst  into  45  and 
found  Elizabeth  alone.  "  Come,  Beth,  I'm 
ready  to  have  you  try  on  your  hat  again.  I've 
finished  it,  and  when  I  tried  it  on  Natalie  it 
looked  simply  stunning.  Come  over  to  the 
glass  where  you  can  see  yourself." 

As  Elizabeth  went  over  to  where  Jean  was 
standing,  Jean  caught  sight  of  a  small  bow  of 
green  ribbon  pinned  conspicuously  on  the  left 
side  of  Elizabeth's  white  shirt-waist.  "  Oh, 
Elizabeth,"  she  cried,  "  are  you  really  pledged 
to  Gamma  Chi?  It's  too  good  to  be  true! 
Now  I've  got  everything  I've  wanted.  You're 
to  room  with  me  next  year,  spend  the  summer 
with  me  in  Europe,  and  be  initiated  into 
Gamma  Chi  when  we  return  in  the  fall.  I've 
known  all  the  year  that  when  the  girls  came  to 
know  you  as  well  as  I  did,  they'd  want  you 
to  join  Gamma  Chi,  but  I  didn't  tell  them,  for 
it  was  much  better  that  they  should  find  it  out 
for  themselves.  Oh,  isn't  it  splendid !  You're 
my  sister  now,  you  know,  forever." 

"  But,  Jean,  didn't  you  know  anything  about 
it  until  just  now?  You.  don't  act  so  awfully 
surprised." 


344   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Oh,  yes ;  I  have  known  since  last  society 
meeting  that  you  were  to  be  invited  to  join, 
but  just  when  I  didn't  know,  for  it  was  Peggy 
Allison's  duty  to  ask  you.  But  the  minute  she 
came  into  the  room  to-night  and  kindly  invited 
me  to  leave,  I  knew  what  was  about  to  hap- 
pen. Were  you  surprised  yourself  and  are 
you  pleased  ? " 

"  Yes,  Jean ;  I  was  surprised,  but  it's  only 
one  more  of  the  things  I  thought  could  never 
happen  to  me.  It  seemed  all  right  that  you 
and  the  other  girls  should  do  them,  but  I 
seemed  different  from  you  all.  I  am  glad  to 
join,  for  I've  wanted  to  go  with  you  so  the 
Monday  nights  when  you  went  to  society. 
You  society  girls  always  seemed  better  friends 
than  those  outside,  and  I  felt  I  was  missing 
something.  I  can't  see,  though,  why  they 
should  want  me  to  join." 

"Well,  I  shan't  tell  you  again,  for  fear  of 
making  you  too  conceited.  It's  enough  to 
know  that  they  do  want  you,  and  now  you're 
to  become  a  good,  loyal  member  of  Gamma 
Chi.  Oh,  you  must  wear  your  ribbon  all  day 
to-morrow.  It  will  show  off  nicely  on  your 


CLASS  DAY  345 

white  dress.  Is  there  anything  else  I  can  do 
to  help  you?  We  mustn't  leave  anything  un- 
til to-morrow,  for  there's  so  much  to  be  done 
then.  Directly  after  breakfast  you  must  go 
up  to  the  gym  to  help  finish  our  daisy-chain. 
I'm  going  out  before  breakfast  to  help  gather 
more  daisies,  so  if  I  don't  get  back  in  time  to 
eat  breakfast,  just  save  me  a  roll  and  a  glass 
of  milk.  Tom  will  arrive  on  that  half -past 
ten  train,  probably,  and  I  must  meet  him,  for 
he  doesn't  know  anything  about  the  Hill." 

"  Do  you  suppose  he'll  get  lost,  Jean,  if  you 
don't  happen  to  meet  him?  What  makes  you 
take  the  time  to  go  to  the  train  ?  " 

"  Why,  do  you  suppose  I'd  let  him  come  all 
that  distance  without  meeting  him?  What 
are  you  thinking  about,  Elizabeth  ?  " 

"Well,  don't  try  to  do  too  much  to-mor- 
row, for  you've  got  to  save  some  strength  for 
your  week  at  New  Haven.  Tom,  being  so 
particular  about  girls,  will  want  his  sister  to 
look  her  prettiest,  especially  as  she's  to  be  the 
solitary  representative  of  his  large  family. 
There's  the  bell !  Hadn't  we  better  stop  talk- 
ing and  go  to  bed  ?  " 


346   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  Yes,  Beth,  I  suppose  so ;  but  I'm  not  a  bit 
sleepy  to-night.  I  could  sit  up  till  midnight 
and  just  talk.  You  go  to  bed.  I  think  I'll 
just  read  a  little  more  of  this  story  and  per- 
haps I'll  get  sleepy." 

"  Oh,  don't  read  any  more,  Jean ;  you'll  be 
sleepy  enough  after  you  once  get  into  bed. 
It's  excitement  that  makes  you  feel  so  wide 
awake." 

"  All  right,  dear,  I'll  do  as  you  say.  You 
see  I  do  need  you  to  make  me  take  care  of 
myself,"  and  the  two  happy  but  tired  girls 
were  soon  in  their  beds  and  asleep. 

Jean  had  set  the  alarm  clock  for  half-past 
five  o'clock,  and  dressing  in  some  old  clothes 
started  for  the  field  back  of  the  dormitories 
where  it  was  white  with  daisies.  She  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  to  make  the  daisy- 
chain,  and  was  anxious  that  it  be  a  success. 
She  found  four  of  the  other  girls  ahead  of  her 
filling  great  baskets  which  they  had  brought 
for  the  purpose.  After  they  had  picked  all 
they  could  possibly  carry  they  went  up  to  the 
gymnasium  and  began  weaving  the  chain. 
When  they  arrived,  it  was  long  after  the 


CLASS  DAY  347 

breakfast  hour,  but  one  girl,  more  thoughtful 
than  the  others,  had  brought  a  box  or  two  of 
crackers  and  so  saved  her  starving  compan- 
ions. More  girls  arrived  every  few  minutes, 
and  all  worked  hard,  so  that  they  were  able 
to  finish  the  long  chain  about  half-past  nine 
o'clock.  They  looked  much  the  worse  for 
wear  and  their  dresses  were  wet  and  stained 
from  the  flowers,  and  Jean's  hair  was  fast  com- 
ing down  round  her  face  and  neck.  Her  dress 
was  badly  torn  in  the  front  where  she  had 
stepped  upon  it  in  her  haste  to  get  into  the 
gymnasium. 

As  she  and  Elizabeth  and  Anne  were  hur- 
rying down  the  Row  to  Merton,  Anne,  looking 
down  toward  the  station,  spied  a  young  man 
coming  in  their  direction,  with  a  suit-case  in 
his  hand.  "  Here  comes  some  one's  man," 
she  said.  "  Hope  he's  early  enough.  Evi- 
dently some  one  forgot  to  meet  him." 

"  Why,  girls,"  exclaimed  Jean,  "  there's 
something  strangely  familiar  about  him.  I 
do  believe  it's  my  brother  Tom.  He  must 
have  taken  an  earlier  train  than  I  wrote  him 
about.  What  a  sight  I  am  to  meet  him!  I 


348   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

had  planned  to  dress  in  my  very  best  and  go 
down  to  the  ten-thirty  train,  and  here  I  am 
looking  more  like  a  tramp  than  anything  else. 
It  is  Tom,  and  I  can't  help  how  I  look;  I'm 
going  to  meet  him,"  and  she  ran  down  the 
Row  and  was  soon  in  her  brother's  arms,  while 
the  other  girls  hurried  into  the  dormitory 
away  from  sight. 

"  Oh,  Tom,  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you !  Don't 
look  at  me.  I'm  ashamed  to  have  you  find  me 
like  this,  but  I've  been  working  since  six  o'clock 
on  our  daisy-chain.  I  didn't  expect  you  for 
another  hour.  What  do  you  mean  by  coming 
out  at  this  time  of  day?  " 

"  Well,  sister,  you  see  I  got  in  town  very 
early  this  morning  and  didn't  have  a  thing  to 
do  after  I  finished  my  breakfast.  Time  began 
to  hang  heavily  on  my  hands,  and  then,  too,  I 
wanted  to  see  you,  so  I  came  out  here  on  the 
first  train  I  could  get,  but  I'll  go  back  if  you 
are  so  disturbed  at  my  early  arrival." 

"  Of  course  I  was  only  fooling,  Tom;  don't 
get  so  sarcastic.  I'm  delighted  that  you're 
here,  only  I'm  a  little  ashamed  to  have  you 
find  me  in  such  messy-looking  clothes.  But 


CLASS  DAY  349 

let's  not  stand  here  on  the  Row  talking.  Come 
up  to  the  Hall.  I'll  find  Peggy  Allison  and 
send  her  downstairs  to  talk  with  you  while  I 
get  into  some  good  clothes.  I  have  a  room 
engaged  for  you  down  at  the  Inn  and  we'll 
go  down  there  before  lunch.  Peggy's  going 
to  have  a  Harvard  man  out  to-day  and  we've 
planned  that  you  two  will  be  together  during 
the  exercises  this  afternoon,  for  we  have  to 
sit  with  our  classes. 

"  Before  I  forget  it,  Tom,  I  want  to  ask 
you  to  be  particularly  nice  to  Elizabeth.  She's 
never  known  many  college  boys  and  didn't 
invite  any  one  to  be  her  guest  to-day.  I  told 
her  you  were  going  to  be  her  guest  as  well  as 
mine,  so  please  help  me  give  her  a  royal  good 
time.  She's  a  mighty  nice  girl  after  you  get 
to  know  her.  At  first  she's  a  bit  shy,  but  when 
you  get  her  interested  in  something  she's  as 
lively  as  the  next  one.  She's  been  invited  to 
join  Gamma  Chi,  and  that  shows  she's  all 
right,  for  only  the  nicest  girls  in  college  belong 
to  that  society." 

"  Isn't  that  a  little  conceited,  Jean,  consid- 
ering the  fact  that  you  belong  to  it  yourself? 


350   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

However,  if  you  and  Peggy  Allison  are  sam- 
ples of  the  girls  who  are  members,  it's  all 
right. 

"  So  this  is  Merton,  the  famous  Merton. 
I  call  it  a  pretty  fine  sort  of  dormitory  for 
a  girls'  college,  of  course  not  to  be  compared 
with  ours,  but  rather  decent,  just  the  same. 
Are  you  going  to  live  here  next  year,  too  ?  " 

"  No ;  you  see  we  had  room-drawing  yester- 
day and  my  name  commencing  with  '  C ' 
comes  near  the  top  of  the  list  and  I  drew  a 
room  in  Wellington  where  Miss  Hooper  is 
matron." 

"  I  suppose  because  you're  a  soph  you've 
chosen  a  single." 

"  No,  Tom,  I've  a  double,  and  Elizabeth  is 
going  to  room  with  me  again  next  year  and 
every  year,  I  hope.  After  you  know  her 
you'll  understand  why  I  want  her.  Now  go 
into  the  reading-room  and  make  yourself  com- 
fortable and  I'll  see  if  I  can  find  Peggy  and 
send  her  down  to  you." 

"  Don't  worry,  Jean.  I  don't  have  to  be 
amused.  I'm  perfectly  able  to  take  care  of 
myself  if  you  don't  find  her." 


CLASS  DAY  351 

But  Peggy  was  available  and  perfectly  will- 
ing to  devote  herself  to  Tom  Cabot,  of  whom 
she  was  very  fond  in  spite  of  the  few  times 
she  had  met  him.  About  half  an  hour  later  Jean 
and  Elizabeth  came  downstairs  dressed  in  their 
soft  white  muslins  and  flower-bedecked  hats. 
They  did  look  attractive  and  Tom  beamed 
approvingly  upon  them  and  was  most  gracious 
as  Jean  introduced  Elizabeth.  Then  she  said, 
"  Now  we'll  go  down  to  the  Inn  and  then 
we're  ready  to  show  you  the  sights.  You've 
got  to  see  everything  while  you  are  about 
it,  so  we'd  better  hurry,  for  lunch  is  to  be 
served  half  an  hour  earlier  than  usual  to- 
day." 

They  went  to  the  Inn  and  found  it  thronged 
with  guests  and  students  and  it  was  very  for- 
tunate for  Tom  that  Jean  had  engaged  his 
room  several  weeks  in  advance.  After  he  had 
deposited  his  suit-case  they  started  out  on  their 
tour  of  inspection.  Tom  kept  the  girls  busy 
with  questions  about  everything  in  sight,  and 
insisted  upon  knowing  the  name  of  every  good- 
looking  girl  they  met.  Once  in  a  while  they 
stopped  for  introductions,  and  dropped  into 


352 

Miss  Hooper's  room  in  Wellington  for  a  few 
moments. 

"  It's  a  mighty  nice  place,  for  a  girls'  col- 
lege," said  Tom  as  they  finally  entered  Mer- 
ton  just  as  the  bell  sounded  for  lunch;  "  there's 
only  one  place  I  know  of  that's  better  and 
that's—" 

"  Yale,  of  course,"  said  Jean;  "  you  needn't 
bother  to  tell  us.  Are  you  ready  for  lunch 
now?" 

"  Ready !  I  should  say  I  was ;  I'm  nearly 
starved.  I  could  eat  half  a  dozen  lunches. 
It's  hours  since  I  had  my  breakfast.  Lead  me 
to  the  food  quickly  or  I  perish.  Am  I  going 
to  be  the  only  man  among  all  you  handsome 
girls?  Not  that  I  mind  at  all,  but  I'd  like  to 
know  beforehand  so  I  won't  make  any  awful 
breaks  to  disgrace  forever  the  House  of 
Cabot." 

"  Don't  worry,  Tom ;  there'll  be  plenty  of 
men  besides  you.  Most  of  the  girls  will  have 
their  out-of-town  guests  here.  Elizabeth  is 
to  wait  on  table,  but  we'll  see  her  again  after 
lunch.  I've  got  to  find  Mrs.  Thompson  to  see 
where  we  are  to  sit,  for  we  won't  have  our 


CLASS  DAY  353 

regular  seats  to-day,  as  lunch  is  to  be  served 
in  the  reading-room  as  well  as  in  the  dining- 
room." 

Lunch  over,  a  lot  of  the  young  people  met 
in  the  hall  and  introductions  were  pretty  gen- 
eral. Peggy's  man,  Mr.  Paul  Thorndike,  Har- 
vard 1912,  and  Tom  became  good  friends  at 
once  and  agreed  to  stick  together  closer  than 
brothers  until  the  Tree  Exercises  were  over, 
when  the  girls  were  to  meet  them  and  take 
them  to  the  spreads.  They  strolled  up  the 
hill  to  the  trees  where  the  exercises  were  to  be 
held,  and  found  the  grounds  fairly  alive  with 
the  Class-Day  guests  in  their  best  summer 
gowns  and  hats.  Beyond  the  space  allotted 
for  the  classes  were  rows  upon  rows  of  settees 
for  as  many  of  the  guests  as  could  be  accom- 
modated, and  the  others  leaned  up  against  the 
chapel  or  College  Hall  or  walked  back  and 
forth  in  the  background. 

Just  after  two  o'clock  the  three  lower  classes 
appeared  in  view  carrying  a  long  white  daisy- 
chain.  The  band,  concealed  behind  the  trees, 
began  to  play  softly,  and  at  the  sound  of  the 
music  the  girls  swayed  back  and  forth,  lifting 


354   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

their  chain  in  the  measure  of  the  music  and 
then  danced  in  and  out  of  the  trees  and  finally 
formed  two  long  lines  on  either  side  of  the 
opening  to  the  space  roped  off  for  the  tree  ex- 
ercises. The  chain  was  held  high  above  their 
heads,  and  all  at  once  every  voice  broke  into 
"  Alma  Mater  "  and  the  stately  seniors  in  their 
black  caps  and  gowns  marched  down  between 
the  rows  of  girls  and  stood  by  the  seats  near- 
est the  "  Grand  Old  Elm,"  as  the  tree  was 
called,  under  whose  branches  the  temporary 
platform  had  been  erected.  Then  the  other 
classes  dropped  their  chain  upon  the  ground 
and  marched  two  by  two  to  their  places.  They 
had  been  singing  "  Alma  Mater  "  all  this  time 
and  when  every  girl  stood  by  her  seat  all  fin- 
ished the  verse  they  were  upon  and  sat  down 
together. 

There  was  an  address  of  welcome  by  the 
class  president  and  then  the  tree  oration,  fol- 
lowed by  the  class  history,  which  was  ex- 
tremely funny  from  beginning  to  end  and 
boasted  of  all  1912  had  done  in  her  four  glori- 
ous years  at  Ashton,  and  ended  with  the  dis- 
tribution of  gifts  to  the  undergraduates. 


CLASS  DAY  355 

There  were  class  songs  and  class  yells,  and 
after  the  senior  class  ode  the  Class-Day  mar- 
shal proposed  that  they  cheer  all  the  buildings. 
Forming  as  they  had  done  at  the  beginning 
of  the  exercises,  the  under-class  girls  cheered 
the  seniors  as  they  passed  through  the  double 
lines  and  headed  the  long  procession  that  hur- 
ried on  from  one  building  to  another.  Not 
one  was  forgotten,  and  many  a  throat  ached 
when  they  finished  and  disbanded  at  the  chapel 
steps.  Each  girl  then  hastened  to  find  her 
guests  and  go  on  to  the  society  and  private 
spreads  which  were  to  be  held  in  the  society 
rooms  and  some  of  the  college  buildings. 

"Did  you  think  we  would  never  finish?" 
said  Jean,  as  she  and  Elizabeth  and  Peggy 
hastened  up  where  Tom  and  Mr.  Thorndike 
were  leaning  against  College  Hall. 

"  No,"  said  Tom;  "  I  enjoyed  every  moment. 
You've  sure  got  some  clever  girls  in  this  col- 
lege. That  was  one  of  the  best  tree  orations 
I  ever  listened  to.  Please  introduce  me  to 
Miss  Mary  Frances  Buffmgton.  I'd  like  to 
talk  with  her.  What's  next  on  the  pro- 
gramme ?  " 


356   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  We're  going  now  to  Gamma  Chi  spread 
in  our  club  rooms,  then  after  you've  eaten  all 
you  can  there,  I've  tickets  for  the  Alpha  Delt 
spread  and  the  Tennis  Club  spread  in  the  gym, 
and  Madeleine  Moore  has  invited  us  to  a  pri- 
vate spread  in  her  room  over  in  South.  Of 
course  we  don't  have  to  take  them  all  in,  but 
I  think  it  will  be  loads  of  fun,  for  everywhere 
we  go  we  will  meet  different  people,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  eats,  which  of  course  will  ap- 
peal to  Tom  more  than  anything  else.  I  pro- 
pose for  once  to  see  if  I  can  satisfy  him  on 
that  score." 

At  all  the  spreads  they  found  food  and  in- 
teresting people  in  abundance  and  laughed  and 
talked  and  made  and  renewed  acquaintances 
to  their  hearts'  content.  Every  one  was  gay 
and  happy  and  filled  with  the  college  spirit  and 
was  young  at  heart  if  not  in  years.  Fathers 
and  mothers  and  even  grandparents  mingled 
with  young  girls  and  men  and  seemed  to  be 
as  much  a  part  of  it  all  as  their  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. Where  is  there  another  place  in  the 
world  so  productive  of  good-fellowship  and 
joy  as  a  college  class  day? 


CLASS  DAY  357 

From  Madeleine  Moore's  upper  room, 
where  they  went  last,  they  sat  by  the  windows 
and  listened  to  the  Glee  Club  singing  the  old 
college  favorites.  Old  girls  who  were  back 
for  the  day  joined  the  singers  on  College  Hall 
steps  and  swelled  the  chorus  to  two  or  three 
times  its  usual  size.  Every  now  and  then  the 
tinkle  of  the  mandolins  and  guitars  could  be 
heard  above  the  sweet  voices  of  the  girls  and 
then  was  lost  in  the  heavier  choruses.  It  was 
almost  dusk  when  the  last  notes  died  away  and 
there  still  remained  the  dance  in  the  gym- 
nasium. 

Tom  left  Jean  and  Elizabeth  at  Merton  to 
dress  for  the  dance,  and  he  hurried  to  the  Inn 
to  get  into  his  dress-suit.  When  the  three 
strolled  across  the  campus  again  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  gym,  a  perfect  fairyland  met  their 
astonished  eyes.  Thousands  of  bright  Japanese 
lanterns  were  strung  about  the  entire  grounds 
and  swayed  gently  back  and  forth  in  the  soft 
summer  breeze.  Here  and  there  were  the 
moving  forms  of  belated  dancers  like  them- 
selves, moving  mysteriously  through  the  semi- 
darkness. 


358   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

"  I  hate  to  leave  such  beauty,"  said  Eliza- 
beth. "  I  don't  care  anything  about  the  danc- 
ing, so  why  not  leave  me  here  on  one  of  these 
benches,  Jean?  You  and  Tom  can  go  in  and 
dance  and  stop  for  me  when  you  come  home." 

"  Well,  I  should  say  not,"  answered  Tom. 
"  Haven't  you  promised  me  part  of  the  first 
dance  and  as  many  more  as  I  want?  Do  you 
think  we're  going  to  leave  you  here  for  some 
prowling  night-watchman  to  abduct?  No, 
you've  got  to  stay  with  us  till  the  very  last 
moment  and  perhaps  between  some  of  the 
dances  we'll  stroll  out  here  for  a  cool  breath." 

When  they  finally  reached  the  gymnasium, 
they  found  it  literally  packed  with  dancers, 
but  they  waded  their  way  through  the  crowds, 
and  Tom  began  the  dance  with  Elizabeth,  for 
Paul  Thorndike  had  noticed  Jean's  entrance 
and  begged  her  for  the  dance.  It  was  not 
much  pleasure  for  any  one,  as  there  was  so 
little  room  that  one  was  continually  stepped  on 
or  crowded  against  a  passing  couple. 

"  I  think  about  half  an  hour  of  this  will  be 
enough  for  me,  Jean,"  said  Tom,  after  the 
first  dance.  "  I'm  as  fond  as  anybody  can  be 


CLASS  DAY  359 

of  dancing,  but  this  is  too  much  for  me.     Let's 
go  up  in  the  gallery  and  watch  the  others." 

So  up  they  went  into  the  gallery  and  watched 
the  whirling  mass  below  them.  It  was  much 
more  fun,  and  many  of  their  friends  followed 
suit  and  joined  them.  Occasionally  some  of 
them  went  down  on  the  floor,  but  returned 
almost  exhausted  with  the  struggle.  About 
half-past  ten  o'clock,  Elizabeth  suggested  that 
they  take  her  home  if  they  would  not  let  her 
go  alone,  and  she  found  Tom  and  Jean  were 
both  as  ready  to  go  as  she. 

When  they  stepped  out  into  the  fairyland 
of  the  campus,  Jean  exclaimed,  "  I  agree  with 
you,  Elizabeth;  this  is  much  better  than  in 
that  crowded,  stifling  gymnasium.  Let's  walk 
around  out  here  for  a  while  until  we  cool 
off." 

It  was  beautiful  out  there  in  the  cool  still- 
ness with  only  the  muffled  music  breaking  it 
occasionally,  and  all  three  became  strangely 
silent  for  such  very  talkative  young  people. 
Jean  broke  the  silence  by  exclaiming,  "  I  know 
now  what  Cousin  Nan  meant  that  first  night 
when  she  and  I  stood  just  here  and  she  said, 


360   JEAN  CABOT  AT  ASHTON 

'  Dear  Old  Ashton !  How  I  love  it  all  and 
how  I  hate  to  leave  it,  for  it  has  done  so  much 
for  me ! '  Then  I  couldn't  understand  what 
she  meant  and  I  smiled  to  myself  as  I  listened 
to  her,  but  now  it's  different  and  I  can  say  all 
that  she  said,  only  I'm  so  glad  I  am  coming 
back  next  year,  and  the  next,  and  the  next, 
for  three  whole  years.  This  going  to  college 
is  the  best  thing  in  a  girl's  life,  isn't  it,  Eliza- 
beth?" 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  Merton  and 
good-nights  had  to  be  said,  but  Tom  and  Jean 
were  to  take  an  early  morning  train  and  had 
all  the  day  to  talk  things  over. 

Although  it  was  very  early  when  the  train 
drew  out  of  the  little  station,  Elizabeth  was 
there  to  see  the  two  off,  and  as  the  train 
started,  Jean  called  from  the  platform,  "  Good- 
by,  Beth,  see  you  in  New  York  a  week  from 
to-day.  Don't  let  Miss  Hooper  lose  the 
train,  for  you  know  she  has  all  our  tickets 
and  we  can't  go  to  Europe  without  her. 
Good-by ! "  and  the  train  steamed  away  as  a 
very  happy  freshman  started  back  to  Merton 
to  think  things  over. 


CLASS  DAY  361 

It  may  be  that  some  of  the  readers  have  be- 
come so  interested  in  the  doings  of  Jean  and 
Elizabeth  that  they  would  like  to  know  what 
they  and  Miss  Hooper  did  during  the  summer 
of  1912  in  the  British  Isles.  For  the  benefit 
of  these  it  may  be  stated  that  a  second  volume, 
entitled  "  Jean  Cabot  in  the  British  Isles,"  will 
appear,  giving  their  experiences  in  that  de- 
lightful country. 


THE   END 


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